Family Worship Month

I have mentioned before the idea of Family Worship – a regular time for the family to gather together around the Word and prayer.  My family has been doing it for several years – and it is a highlight of our kids’ day. 

To help promote the idea, some folks have declared January to be Family Worship Month, and January 29 to be Family Worship Sunday.  Their blog has numerous articles from various Christian leaders (living and dead) on the importance of Family Worship.  Well worth checking out.

For a brief but helpful book introducing Family Worship, pick up Donald Whitney’s book.

God Has Been Gracious

I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant. – Genesis 32:10

God has dealt graciously with me. – Genesis 33:11

…the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.  – Genesis 35:3

This is Jacob’s testimony. 
Looking at his life, it is clear Jacob was not worthy,
and yet God dealt graciously with him.

Is this not our testimony as well?
Looking at our lives, we are not worthy either,
but God has dealt graciously with us.

He showers us with his steadfast love.
He remains faithful to us.
He answers our prayers.
He is always with us.

Sure, we will have difficult days.  Jacob did too.
And yet we can see God’s grace in the trials
as well as in the blessings.

Truly, God has dealt graciously with us!

Cleaning His House

And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold.
 - Luke 19:45

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.
So glorify God in your body.  
 - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Jesus came to his temple and found what should not have been there,
so he began to drive those things out.

You are his temple today. 
When he comes to his temple, does he find what should not be there?
Are there common sins he wants to drive out?
Are there idols he wants to drive out?
Are there wrong priorities he wants to drive out?
Will you cooperate with him in driving those things out?

Passion Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

A few years back I started going book by book through the Old Testament looking for examples of grace.  I only got through I Samuel.  This week I found this post by Dane Ortland who gives us a brief summary of how each book of the Bible shows forth God’s grace.

Mike Bullmore tells us from the Bible what we should expect from the Bible.  Do we come to the Bible with these expectations?

Finally, Tim Chester has been posting a number of Apologetic Sound Bites to help us answer skeptics who ask the following questions:
How can you claim there’s only one true religion?
Why do you want to force your opinion on me?
Why does God allow so much suffering?
Why doesn’t God reveal himself more clearly?

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day hearing the Word preached in your local church!

Thorns?

Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.  
 - Matthew 13:7-9

Are there thorns in your life seeking to choke you
and keep you from being fruitful?

Maybe it’s time to pull some weeds….