Opened up with talking again about prayer. It is my personal prayer and the purpose of this series that we would be challenged to go back to God in this time of uncertainty. That when unexpected things happen in our lives that we won’t forget this time that we are in and what we have learned from our time with God right now. May we remember and not forget the things that we did in this time of uncertainty: we still made time for God, we still read his word, we prayed. We prayed to God not just because we need his help but to also acknowledge that He is God. All things are done with His knowledge and that He uses all things to draw us closer to Himself and to make us (our character) more like His Son (Jesus). That other people would know Him, not just through our words but through our actions in how we care and consider other people and their needs because God cares about other people, knows and provides for their needs too.
Originally, today I wanted to talk about our role and influences in parenting because that is what is on my mind but then not everyone is focused on that right now. So, as I try to be led by the Holy Spirit in what we discuss today we read through Psalms 78 and allowed space for God’s word to speak directly to each person in whatever way that He wanted it to. As you read or listen along with us, please share what stood out to you with me/us so that we can expand our perspectives too as we move forward together. You can share what stood out to you about God, about his people or anything else in general from Psalms 78. Thank you.
SONGS:
Lead Me To the Cross – Brooke Fraser
Psalms 78 What stands out to you?
Please read Psalms 78 from your Bible or click here to read or listen https://my.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.78.ESV. (You can also easily change the translation as well there if you like.)
Our thoughts
God’s anger was described.
The people forgot what God did for them.
It recounted what happened in the desert with the people.
God’s actions in verses 30-31 ‘But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel.’
Their suffering extended because they kept rebelling against God.
What caused the 40 years of wandering in the desert? My son found it in the Bible and summarized it.
Numbers 13– Numbers 14 talks about the 12 spies which included Caleb & Joshua that came back with a report about the land. Only Caleb & Joshua remembered what God had done and believed that God was able; they did not operate out of fear. God punished the people because of this. Numbers 14:20-25. ‘Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord , none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. ‘ Numbers 14:20-24 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/NUM.14.20-24 Side note: I am SO GLAD that we named our son CALEB and not a name like Judas!!! (Thank you God!! I’m so thankful because I didn’t realize “Caleb” was in the Bible until years later because I WASN’T READING MY BIBLE!! I didn’t know.)
The people did not pass on the truths of what God did with their children and then they forgot over time.
In talking about the song “I Will Follow” & the book of Ruth in the Bible, we all realized that we need to re-read the Bible regularly because we forget details or we get things mixed up. There is a lot going on. We do forget. We forget all that God has done back then and even today. Spending time with God regularly is important so that we may remember God and not forget. Lord, help us to remember you and to tell others about you that they may know you and remember you too.
I mentioned in the video a blog post I wrote a few years ago after a thought-provoking sermon by our new youth pastor, Pastor Pinkham, which included several questions that I thought all Christian parents needed to consider. You can read that post here, my own thoughts, and listen to his sermon embedded in my blog post called, “As you raise up the next generation.” Ultimately, I want to raise children that understand the holiness of God and lives out their life in light of that truth even when nobody else is around because they love God and have their own personal growing relationship with God. I cannot make this happen, I pray for them and I pray for me. I know it starts with me first doing all these things on my own with God before I can expect or hope for anything in them.
Thank you SO MUCH for joining in and praying for us and others around the world. I pray this time encourages you to dig into your Bibles and to seek #truth and the understanding that comes from the Lord. We are in our third week of “no school at school” as everyone continues to go to school online to minimize group gatherings and help prevent the spread of the #coronavirus here in #Daegu, South Korea. I am thankful for our local leadership’s efforts. I am in prayer as I see the news of the spread around the world. I will continue this “Bible Time & Worship” online ministry as long as God gives me the ‘go’ to be used in this way. If so, I plan to be on at noon (Daegu time) via FB every Monday – Friday. Remember, God is able and #Godisbiggerthanxyz (any situation we may be facing); In HIM we continue to place our hope. Sincerely, Sejana
#homeworship #thankful #familyBiblestudy #Killthevirus #Godisbiggerthanxyz #onlineministry #discipleship #faithoverfear #bestrongdaegu #parenting #leadmetothecross #iwillfollow
Looking for a Bible Study to watch and consider during this time? Try these: https://sejanashines.com/2020/03/07/bible-time-worship-every-episode-summary/
Sejana Shines 