You will find more of my music on youtube. Simply type in my name, judy mceachran, or go to the links below. There’s more information about each song on the Music page here in the blog, or on the youtube song descriptions. May these worship tunes bring peace and joy in your times of worship. More songs are soon on the way!
The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life (Psalm 42:8 NIV).
Sometimes a new song doesn’t do it! But often, a familiar song will. Singing a song multiple times causes it to rise in my spirit; the God-breathed part of me, like an anchor, dropped in the ocean’s depths of the real me.
As a child of God, I am the temple of the Holy Spirit “who lives in me” (1 Corinthians 6:19). What I put into my heart and mind, whether a spiritual song or a scripture, may revive in the night seasons of life. And what was once buried in my spirit, at the moment needed, with the attending, gentle work of the Holy Spirit, surfaces with a melodious breath of life — like a song.
Our son, Tom, finished his senior year of high school mid-year, and his friend Dominique, an exchange student from Switzerland, invited him to his home. On a trip of a lifetime, Tom took his snowboard and was off. We didn’t know about all the adventures these young men would face.
On a Sunday after church, a few days before Tom was to fly home, we received a call from Dominique’s mom that shook our insides. Tom and Dominique were snowboarding in the mountains, and Tom had fallen and was flown by a medical helicopter to a Swiss hospital. Stunned, we immediately cried out to the Lord.
The high cost of flight tickets, because of short notice, and with Tom scheduled to fly home in four days, made us uncertain of what to do.
Time for bed came, but sleep was fleeting, and I found myself in the living room weeping before the Lord. I was concerned about Tom being alone in a foreign country, his severe injuries, and wondering if he could fly home as scheduled. And my heart longed to be with him.
In those heartache moments, an old song from years past came flooding into my thoughts, and I knew God was speaking: “I believe the answer’s on the way. I believe the Lord has heard me pray. Cast not away your confidence, says the Lord of Hosts. Now, by faith in Him alone, I stand, firmly held by His Almighty hand. Fully trusting in His promise, praise the Lord.”
Like a miracle, the Holy Spirit told me to stand firm and not cast my confidence away but trust God. In those divine moments, God’s comfort and peace brought the assurance I needed: Tom would get home safely. I went back to bed and was able to sleep.
The sweetness of the Holy Spirit in those precious moments assures you and me that He is with us: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8: 16). That part of me that never dies is connected to the Holy Spirit and He is the Helper, Comforter, Guide, and Truth-teller. He intercedes for us in our times of need (Romans 8:26) and brings things to our remembrance: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).
A constant stream of praise music and scriptures and experiencing God’s presence, like treasures, are buried deep into our spirit. In those night seasons of life, the Holy Spirit, living within, brings to remembrance exactly what is needed to face and get through the challenging and fearful days.
You may wonder what happened to Tom.
We had a call from the Swiss hospital. A nurse said, “hold a minute,” and then Tom was on the phone. He was hard to understand because of the neck brace that didn’t give his mouth much room for talking. Initially, they thought he had broken his neck, but thankfully, he hadn’t.
We were thrilled and relieved when Tom’s flight arrived home, complete with a neck brace, his luggage, and a large snowboard. Tom was on heavy medication and sleeping soundly on the flight. Thankfully, a little girl angel woke him, or he would have kept flying to who knows where.
In that night season, God spoke through an old song I hadn’t sung for years: “I Believe the Answer’s On the Way.” But the Holy Spirit, “who brings all things to remembrance,” gave me the precious gift of knowing God was working, “Now, by faith in Him alone, I stand, firmly held by His Almighty hand. Fully trusting in His promise, praise the Lord.”
Dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit
While waiting for Tom to come home, I kept rehearsing that song either out loud or in my mind. Each time it reminded me of God’s promise: I could trust Him! Although we were in South Dakota and Tom was in Switzerland, almost 5000 miles apart, it posed no problem for our everywhere-present God.
The more we plant in the good soil of our spirit the spiritual songs, Bible verses, and hymns of praise, we can expect the Holy Spirit to connect with us in our times of need and speak peace. We are admonished in Ephesians 6:19: “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”
In a night season, Paul and Silas, in prison for preaching the gospel, began singing hymns to God at midnight. A violent earthquake shook the place, opened the prison doors, and everyone’s chains fell off. The jailer called for the lights, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:25-29). A night season was transformed by the hymns of praise that rose from their spirit.
I’m so thankful we are connected with the Holy Spirit who “lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17), especially when we need a song in the night season.
By the way, if you were moved by this story of God’s faithfulness, I invite you to listen to my YouTube channel Weekend Worship video entitled, “Jesus, You’re My Song .” https://youtu.be/3J1SmcuZqmg
Listening to it today reminded me that Jesus is “the sunshine on a rainy day”—during the hard days of life. He’s “the light that lights the darkest way”—when we are confused and feeling lost. Jesus is “my strength when mine has slipped away,” feeling weary of the battle, and “Jesus is my song!” So, “I’ll praise Him all day long because He’s the answer to my life, and He’s my song.”
Merely by speaking God brought the world into existence. God spoke. Creation happened. God created words. According to Oxford Living Dictionaries, there are probably three-quarters of a million words in our English language. The website, Ethnologue, Languages of the World, details 7,111 known living languages. Words have power and coupled with God’s authority, that Word changes us as we live in the Word. One of the best ways to know God, dwell in God’s presence, and love Him is to enjoy the Word daily.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was WITH God,
and the Word WAS God. John 1:1
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
Word (logos) as in “the Word of God” is a divine reason and creative order identified as Jesus in John 1. Jesus gives us God’s Word, and he IS the Word.
GOD SPOKE
God spoke the world into existence. God speaks….and it happens. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light (Genesis 1:3). Ten times in the first chapter And God said, brought an immediate, actual creation. And it was done! He spoke, and it came to be (Psalm 33:9).
GOD WROTE
God wrote to Moses and the Israelites with His own finger (Deuteronomy 9:10), These commands were written and stored in the Ark of the Covenant, a portable tabernacle, complete with a cloud of God’s very presence, and a fire at night.
GOD DWELLS
God’s words of commands and promise were placed in the Ark, which when the Israelites were not traveling, was located at the center of the camp, a symbol of where God wants to be with his people – in the center of their lives. The Ark with God’s Words was the place of God’s presence among the people.
Photo by Erwan Hesry
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
THE WORD IS JESUS
The Word is Jesus and was with God at creation. In Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God (the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) created the heavens and the earth. Colossians tells us that Jesus was the image of the invisible God who created all things. For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth (Colossians 1:16 ESV).
AND THE WORD WAS GOD
Jesus, the Word of God, is the very image of God. As God wanted to be the center of the His people with the Ark of the Covenant and later the temple, Jesus wants to be at the very center of our lives. Jesus only spoke what God told him to say (John 12:49-50).
John 1:14 says, The Word (Jesus) became flesh so he could dwell among us. He laid aside some of His glory to come and live among us. Jesus, the Savior who paid for our sins by his perfect and sinless life, nailed them to the cross. With his resurrection, we have eternal life.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)
When Jesus comes to set up his kingdom, his name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13).
God spoke life into existence, and God gave written words so we could know God and live in His presence. As we fill our hearts and minds with God’s words, God will dwell with us. (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 10:16). And we will know an abundant life!
If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will
be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
My husband often says it is easy to believe God loves us. The hard part is, do we love God? One of the best ways to show our love for God is to devour His Word. Read it like a love letter from the man you’re going to marry. Keep reading it over and over. As the word fills our mind and hearts, faith grows. Our relationship with God grows. Our nature and character become transformed into being more like Jesus.
Tie them around your finger. Write them on your heart. Proverbs 7:3 ESV
I’m going to keep reading through, again and again, meditating, learning, and growing. I hope you will too! I’d enjoy hearing some of the insights you are gleaning along the way! Write in the comments or send me an email on the contact page.
HAVE YOU READ THE WORD TODAY?
Jesus is the Word! The Word of God is eternal, like Jesus, who was in the beginning, was WITH God, and WAS God. The Bible we hold in our hands is filled with the spoken and written words from God.
GOD SPEAKS and creates life in us through his word.
GOD WROTE our Bible through divine revelation For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).
GOD DWELLS with us as we identify and walk with God at the center of our lives. As God dwelt with the Israelites with the Ark of the Covenant (his commands and promises), so God dwells in the word, our Bible, in the living and active words.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul
and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts
and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)
Job said I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread (Job 32:12).
Jesus said, we can’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
When we fill hearts and mind with the Word, God will be our God, and we will be his people. (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 10:16).
I’M PRAYING FOR YOU!
Dear Lord, fill us with your Word and your presence as we read today. Be the center, the priority of our lives today! Strengthen our hearts and minds with truth and love. Thank you for giving us Your eternal, life-changing words! We love you for it! Amen!
Attacks, slander, and hatred are part of the fabric of our nation. What is the solution when the battle is raging? What do we do when we are personally attacked? Scriptures tell us God will fight for us if we seek Him through prayer, singing praise, believing His Word, and listening for the Holy Spirit’s voice.
Scripture says any attack or battle we face is not only with another person. We are fighting something more.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
The Old Testament story from 2 Chronicles 20 gives powerful testimony to the fact that God fought for His people, and He will fight for His people today.
SOME BACKGROUND HISTORY
Jehoshaphat erred in his alliances with the evil King Ahab through marriage and in fighting against the Aramaens whom God sent to destroy Ahab. God rebuked Jehoshaphat through Jehu, the prophet: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?”
God rebuked the King, but he also noticed good in him. The prophet encouraged the King, “There is some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles (idols) and have set your heart on seeking God” (2 Chronicles 19:3).
Following the Lord’s rebuke, Jehoshaphat realized he could not have one foot in the wicked ways of Ahab and the culture, and one foot in serving God. If we are expecting God’s blessings and provision, we must make sure we are standing with people who fight for God and His values. “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?”
Jehoshaphat showed true repentance. He set out to turn the people back to serving Jehovah. He radically reformed the judiciary in every fortified city of Judah. “Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery” (2 Chronicles 19:7).
He appointed Levites, priests, and heads of Israel families to “serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord, and warn them not to sin against the Lord” 2 Chronicles 19:10).
Jehoshaphat stepped us his leadership to get his people under God’s rule and laws.
After this, King Jehoshaphat faced a significant attack from vast enemy armies. But with his committed heart for God leading the nation to honor God, he knew what to do. No longer helping the wicked who hate the Lord (wicked King Ahab), the King gathered the people from every town in Judah to seek God’s help in this attack. Without it, only defeat! All the men of Judah, their wives and little ones stood before the Lord in prayer. Here’s the full text (2 Chronicles 20).
PRAY FIRST
The King prayed:
“O Lord God, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all might so that no one is able to withstand You?
Are you not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants?
We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
The Spirit of the Lord spoke through a Levite minister, Jahaziel: Do not be afraid nor discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
I love those words! Our battles are God’s, too, when we lean on Him and trust His Word.
At a recent prayer meeting, we were seeking God’s help for a difficult situation. A brother in prayer felt the Spirit speak these similar words to us, “Don’t be afraid. The battle is the Lord’s, and He never loses” (Thank you, Bill R). Now that’s a faith builder!
In the Old Testament story, the Lord continued to speak:
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'”
The next morning they set out and began to sing and praise, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever,” and the Lord set ambushes against the men who were invading Judah, and they were defeated and destroyed. No survivors in the enemy’s camp. None!
GOD NEVER LOSES! Our part is to pray, praise, believe the Word, and listen to the Spirit! As we do, we can be confident the same God who fought the batlles in Scripture will fight for us!
When the people sang and praised the Lord, the Lord took care of the enemy. I can’t be angry when I sing. Fear leaves. Peace builds. Singing praise brings my attention to God’s power and greatness. My eyes focus on the power of God rather than the giant in front of me.
In God’s presence, there is fullness of joy. Singing praise fills my thoughts and lifts my attention upward. Faith builds. I believe what God says in His Word!
You may be familiar with these songs: “I’m going to see a victory, for the battle belongs to the Lord.” Or, “I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies.”
When we sing and praise the Lord, He promises to fights for us.
BELIEVE GOD’S WORD
When I sing, pray, and fill my thinking with Scripture, it’s easier to focus on Gods able deliverance. The same principles in the stories of Scripture are true. When God bolds a scripture, I underline it, put in my journal, post it on the refrigerator, and say it out loud. I keep reminding myself of God’s promises.
God’s Word builds my faith! The more I hear it, the more I believe it! When I feed my faith, it grows. When I starve my fear, it dies.
The prayer of Bill (I mentioned above) is posted on the refrigerator, so I see it often through the day (“Don’t be afraid. The battle is the Lord’s, and He never loses”) and because it’s Scripture, my faith is encouraged. I can believe in God’s Word. He’s the same today as He was yesterday. What He did for his people in Bible times, He will do for us who believe.
LISTEN FOR THE GENTLE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT
God speaks through others, but God also speaks to us individually when we are facing trouble.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahazial: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
We were seeking God’s direction if we should fly to attend our grandson’s wedding at the end of April during the COVID. The restrictions and fear of contracting the virus weighed into our discussion. Should we go or stay at home? Will we be safe?
The day before the deadline for flying, the Lord bolded this verse of Scripture, “I will walk about in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments” (Psalm 119:45). I knew God spoke through His Word and the gentle voice of the Spirit. We could go to the wedding. We could walk in freedom on this trip, and not be afraid.
We made the trip without issue and had a wonderful time. God kept His Word!
A more recent experience of the Holy Spirit’s voice came through in a unique way. I’m learning new software for recording music and have called several times for technical support. Often, the tech wasn’t able to immediately fix the problem. This time, I was amazed at how quickly and easily he solved it. It was an easy fix! That’s when the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me about the impossible battle we were facing and said, “It’s an easy fix for Me!”
I knew God’s presence and peace. God is fighting our battle!
Satan, our adversary, goes to great lengths to deceive, discourage, and destroy faith. He is not only a super-thief but the Father of Lies, an accuser, a slanderer, a murderer from the beginning. He masquerades as an angel of light. He tries to scare us like a roaring lion ready to pounce and devour. However, standing firm with prayer, singing praise, and listening to the Spirit’s voice through the Word, the evil one has to flee. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!
When God speaks, peace comes as I listen.
Maui Beach, photo by Judy
BONUS – BLESSINGS AND PEACE
Not only did God destroy Jehoshaphat’s enemies, but He also blessed the people beyond expectation! It took three days to collect all the spoil from these defeated enemies – valuables, clothing, equipment – a wealth of blessing! And not only the spoils, but there was peace in the land, and the enemies didn’t attack again.
The story ends this way: The Lord won the battle, and it was known.
“The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side” (2 Chronicles 20:29, 30).
Not only did God win the battle, but God was honored in the nations. Unexpected provision and peace blessed His people.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately every battle we face is a spiritual one, whether a personal battle or the battles raging in our nation. The same prescription remains – pray, sing praises, fill our minds with God’s Words and promises, and listen for the Spirit’s voice.
Armor up with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Soldier up with your shield of faith in God’s promises. Keep your head covered with the helmet of salvation, and the belt of truth. Wear the breastplate of right living, and walk about in God’s peace (Eph 6:12-18).
God will fight for us. God will exceed our expectations. Peace and rest will come as we live in God’s presence and believe His Word.
When we pray, worship, believe the Word of God, and listen for the Spirit’s voice, we will know victory in our battles!
I hope you will take time to read 2 Chronicles 20 and let the Holy Spirit speak to you as you pray, sing praises, believe God’s Word and listen to the gentle leading of the Spirit for your own personal battles.. I’m doing the same.
This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you”(2 Chronicles 20: 15-17).
Human thinking is often inadequate when weighing spiritual matters. Much like a baby learning to walk or talk or run, we begin with baby steps in spiritual insight. But we do grow as we take time in God’s word, prayer, and seeking knowledge of the Lord. In that growing, God in his love and kindness steps in to help us. Peter, a leading disciple, rebuked Jesus for saying he would suffer and die on the cross. Although Peter lacked an understanding of God’s plan, he grew in spiritual understanding and became a powerhouse of faith. His example gives me encouragement for the times I don’t understand what God is up to.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
Declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
BE IN THE WORD DAILY
Lay a foundation to your day by spending time in the Word.
We have the knowledge for understanding God at our fingertips. The more we are in the word the more we will know and understand the things of God. Understanding comes through the Scriptures. It’s alive! It’s active in us (Hebrews 4:12). God’s word transforms our thinking as we seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Weget the Word into us so it will pour out of us in times of need.
The Word will keep us on the right paths, in right relationships, right living, and ready for eternal life.
The Sunday School song from my childhood still rings true. Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow!
Our knowledge deepens as we live in the Word, hear the secrets revealed, and gain spiritual understanding.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work
in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
GROW IN KNOWLEDGE
Hosea 4:6 “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” They ignored God’s words (our Scriptures today). God’s people are ruined because they don’t know God’s values and are lacking spiritual understanding.
The good news is we can become better at understanding God’s ways. We have God’s Word, but we also have the Holy Spirit to teach and guide.
PETER KNEW JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH
Matthew 16:13-22
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
JESUS COMMENDS PETER CONFESSION OF JESUS AS MESSIAH
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”
Jesus commended Peter. He didn’t gain that knowledge from another person or an educational system (flesh and blood). It was revealed supernaturally to Peter “by my Father in heaven.”
PETER’S UNDERSTANDING WAS LIMITED.
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:21-23
Peter firmly believed that Jesus was God, the Messiah. But when Jesus began to speak of his suffering and death (Matthew 16:21), he rebuked Jesus. “You’re the promised Messiah!” “You won’t have to suffer.” “You can’t be killed.” “That’s no way to talk, Jesus.” “This will never happen to you, Jesus.”
A human logical assumption could be that the Messiah came to set up the kingdom of Israel and rid the nation of Roman rule. When Jesus said he had to suffer and die, Peter’s thoughts fell short of God’s plan.
JESUS REBUKE PETER
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind theconcerns of God, but merely human concerns.’
Peter’s human thinking was a “stumbling block” to Jesus. It was offensive. HIs human thinking, though motivated by his love for Jesus, was diabolically opposing the wisdom of God’s plan. Peter, in his rebuke to Jesus, directly opposed God’s highest wisdom and greatest knowledge. Peter opposed and misunderstood God’s perfect will for redemption’s plan. Peter’s motive of love, though pure and good, traveled alongside the human deceitfulness of the heart (Jeremiah 17:9). Within resides selfish, earthly, and unspiritual thoughts.
WAR BETWEEN THE FLESH AND SPIRIT
Peter knew who Jesus was, the Son of God. But his spiritual perception was still limited. His knowledge was elementary. But as in all of us, there are times we are led by the Holy Spirit and times we are led by the flesh. There is a war between the spiritual and the flesh, between human thought and spiritual understanding. Growing in spiritual perception takes time and effort. It’s a normal pattern of growth for all of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus. We struggle in letting the Spirit lead over the flesh.
Paul writes in Romans 7, I do not do the good I want to do. There’s another law at work that makes me a prisoner. Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me (Romans 7: 14-25).
Thankfully, in our struggle to live for God, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We have the work of the Holy Spirit within to teach us and lead us to a greater spiritual depth and understanding. With that work of the Spirit, we grow and develop our minds set on what the Spirit desires (Romans 8:5b).
Photo from Eastern Lightning
PETERDEVELOPED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
After Jesus rose, Peter was forgiven for his denial of Jesus and commissioned by Jesus to shepherd the flock. Peter preached at Pentecost and 3000 people were saved. With a vision from God to change his thinking, he was sent to the Gentiles, to Cornelius. This vision changed his understanding that God’s salvation was not only for the Jews but for the entire world (Acts 10). More on this in Part 2.
Peter did many miracles through God’s power. He was freed from prison by an angel. He wrote 1 and 2 Peter.
A spiritual work continues as our human yields to God’s will. The more we seek God, the more we will understand. The more the Spirit works in us the more the flesh subsides. Our knowledge deepens as we live in the Word, hear the secrets revealed, and gain spiritual understanding. Peter’s understanding unfolded more and more as he followed Jesus. Peter’s limited knowledge of Jesus grew into effective and productive maturity.
God’s generous grace has deposited in us everything we need for life and complete devotion and living in a divine partnership with God. So devote yourself to growing your faith in increasing measure in the knowledge of the Lord. And MAKE EVERY EFFORT to add these growth qualities in INCREASING MEASURE.
For this very reason,
make every effort to add to your faith goodness;
and to goodness, knowledge;
and to knowledge, self-control;
and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
and to godliness, mutual affection; and to
mutual affection, love. For if you
possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from
being ineffective and unproductive
in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8
For the conclusion continue to PART 2, JESUS HELPS US UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN (Peter’s example).
Our children are being indoctrinated in values that battle against the values taught in the founding years of our nation. The government is usurping God’s authority and eliminating liberties and individual “inalienable” rights. Tyranny rises.
In our nation’s beginnings, the Founding Fathers came to these shores, escaping a tyrannical government and seeking freedom for individual rights and religion. They understood a nation would not last without recognizing and living out God’s moral laws. John Adams, the second U.S. President, said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
The Preamble of the Declaration of Independence recognized God as Creator: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Laying the foundation for “a moral and religious people” and ensuring freedoms would last, American education was grounded in the Bible, the “most important book in the world.” Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and first Supreme Court Justice said: “The Bible contains more knowledge necessary to man in his present state than any other book in the world. By renouncing the Bible, philosophers swing from their moorings upon all moral subjects….It is the only correct map of the human heart that ever has been published.”
Our nation rose to greatness, unrivaled in its success based on the principles of God’s universal bedrock benefits. Realizing the necessity of training children, The New-England Primer, much like a first-grade textbook, maintained three teaching elements, the “Rhyming Alphabet,” “Shorter Catechism,” and the Alphabet of Lessons for Youth.”
Samuel Adams in Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin in Pennsylvania, and Noah Webster in Connecticut were all trained in this Primer. They had it reprinted to ensure it would continue teaching all their and their children’s children. Students learned to read from this primary textbook into the 1930s.
The Primer taught the alphabet, phonics, and the assembling of letters, and syllables. Prominent in the first-grade text for two and a half centuries was the “The Rhyming Alphabet”: A—In Adam’s Fall, we sinned all, B—Heaven to find, the Bible mind, C—Christ crucified, for sinners died.
This alphabet continued for several centuries. A portion from the 1727 Primer and a 1905 copy of the same page shows the first letter of the Rhyming Alphabet,A—In Adam’s Fall, we sinned all” (The Founder’s Bible, p. 2034).
“The Alphabet of Lessons for Youth,” applied a Bible verse or story to each letter. Here are a few examples from The Founder’s Bible, p. 945:
A-A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. [Proverbs 10:1] B-Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. [Proverbs 15:16] C-Come unto Christ all ye that labor and are heavy laden and He will give you rest. [Matthew 11:28]
At the back of the Primer, the beginner’s reading book were questions like these:
What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?
How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
How does Christ execute the office of a king?
Many other routine “first-grade” questions were included, such as this one: “What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?”
Today, how many adults would like to answer that one? Isn’t it amazing that the youngest of elementary pupils studied and learned the answers to these questions?
For nearly four centuries, Americans believed that the fear of the Lord was the beginning of academic knowledge (The Founder’s Bible, p 925). With over 200 historical documents and extensive documentation, Barton relates through these articles, crucial verses from Scripture that anchor the Founder’s intention of guarding liberties and rights. An example: Proverbs 1:7,”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
President John Adams
The first federal law passed by Congress addressed education, declaring: “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
George Washington, speaking to three youths from the Delaware Indian tribe who came to be trained in American schools, said, “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ” — that is “the fear of the Lord” (page 926).
Scripture clearly regards each person as equal before God with rights bestowed in finding life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Scripture affirms every person was made “fearfully and wonderfully in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13-14) and is the recipient of God’s gracious laws of blessing and favor. God chose us “before the foundation of the world” to live in God’s freely-given rights and freedoms (Ephesians 1:4-5).
The Founder’s Bible, The Origin of the Dream of Freedom, by premier historian and constitutional expert David Barton, informs readers of our forgotten history and spiritual heritage. Barton’s extensive research and historical documents establish how America was founded on God’s truths that grant freedoms and individual “inalienable rights” to every person.
We are at a crossroads. Cultural thoughts contrary to God’s laws have taken root and are combative to our society at a fast pace. We desperately need to get back to teaching our children and grandchildren the foundation of our past freedoms as a nation “under God.” Are we too far gone, or is it possible to return to God’s truths that laid the groundwork for this greatest nation on earth?
God as Creator gives life and liberty. Every civilization in the past whose government ignored God’s laws, ended up fragmented, in chaos, and destroyed. Our fundamental rights and freedoms are intrinsically woven into moral virtues that have become battered and broken. The sanctity of marriage, protection of the unborn, the sexualization of our children, gender confusion, and sex trafficking concede we are shattered.
John Adams, our Second President, was correct, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
I attempt to share with you what I am learning through David Barton’s Founder’s Bible. His vast research and documented history will help us become knowledgeable citizens who stand for individual freedoms and liberties given by our Creator.
When God opens a door of opportunity, it’s not always easy to walk through. Writing is a learned craft and one that hasn’t come easy for me. I love preaching, but the writing was a different kind of animal. Thankfully, I am learning.
I attended a Writer’s Conference in May with many experts, publishers, editors, teachers, professional writers, and regular people like me who are still learning the craft. The conference assembled to praise the Lord, get acquainted, and learn from the varied multitude of teachers and informative sessions. Besides all the contacts, handouts, and training, I came away with the confidence to pursue my dream of writing a book. Yeah! I’ve started.
Is there something that you have dreamed about doing and just haven’t put in the work to learn the craft? Don’t give up. Go for it and remember God will provide all you need to accomplish the task, with a bit of learning, no, a lot of learning along the way.
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Proverbs 37:4