Sunday 14 April 2013

Holiness and Firm Foundations

 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27

Do you remember the song from Sunday school about this verse in Matthew? I have had it stuck in my head the past few days and it has been making me really think about how we are building our foundations for our family.

We have really been trying to teach Little A scriptures and truths that she can hold on to (John 17:17). When she needs discipline for something and we are discussing what it was that she did wrong, we always ask her what she did and why it was wrong. We use that time to discuss the bible and what God teaches us about loving and showing kindness.

The bible may not have anything specific about parenting styles, but it does have a lot of great messages and lessons that we can use to train our children in the way they should go (and to remind ourselves too).

Jesus talks about himself and his teachings being the firm foundation for our lives. We are called to live like Him and be holy.

Most people associate holiness with the self-righteous and "holier-than-thou" kind of people. Sometimes we think of the only people who could be holy are those in ministry or who have devoted their whole lives to missions or the church.

In the new testament, the word holy or "hagios" is not used when describing just a select few, it is for describing God's people in general. We have all been called to be holy, it is our goal as followers of Christ.

Ephesians 4 and 5 are full of Paul's descriptions of how to live as a holy and pleasing, fragrant sacrifice to God. (It can also be viewed as a great teaching tool for the characters that we want to develop in our children)


So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of Godbecause of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrathcomes on those who are disobedient.  Therefore do not be partners with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:17 - 5:20





Setting a firm foundation for your home and family begins with you. We need to dig deep in our faith and the word and discover what it is that we truly believe.  



Young love, this is from when we first started
dating... we were both working at a christian camp. 







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