Quote from Forum Archives on April 16, 2002, 9:54 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Do you have any idea how many words of careful, loving teaching and
instruction can be found throughout scripture? Here's one from the
Old Testament book of Psalms:

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will
counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you. Psalm 32:8-9

Or what about this well known verse?

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not
turn from it.(Proverbs 22:6)

Then, a SPECIFIC word for guys like me!!! 🙂

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in
the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Training is not only for children and men, women need training, too!
🙂

Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and
children, (Titus 2:4)

We could easily do a word search of the Bible on any number of topics.
I just took a few moments this morning to do a quick Bible search
because my friend in Arizona, Karen Weber, wrote a devotional this
morning based on Paslm 32:8-9 and it got me thinking. (Believe it or
not, I DO think once in a while, sometimes even BEFORE I act!) 🙂

I often write about how I need to renew my mind continually. Well,
this week already, I've had some great moments, but I have been
extremely exhausted, operating on far less than optimal amounts of
sleep because of young children. Do you think that I have responded
well in all instances? Yeah, right! Dream on!

I've lost it - a few times. Yet in the past couple of days, I have
had some wonderful spiritual moments, too. I believe, with all of my
heart, that every time I have a good spiritual experience, the enemy
is going to come along and do anything to disrupt that experience and
try to cause me to lose hope, focus, or anything that would, in any
way, interfere with God's Spirit at work in me and in those around me.

If you don't think it's any different for you, then perhaps it's time
to examine again what's going on in your life. I think the enemy will
back off a bit when WE'RE off! So if you're not under any kind of
spiritual attack, I would question what's up.

Not everyone, perhaps, will agree with this assessment of things, but
hopefully many will at least consider these words. I cannot urge you
enough to read the Word regularly, pray continually, seek
encouragement from others, and encourage others yourself. To me,
that's much of what the Christian life is all about! (Naturally, our
focus is on God first, but these are the outpouring things from Him).

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide me in how you would have me take action
today. I often don't know where to turn or how to go. No matter what
I say, where I go, or what I do, I desire to be with You! Give me
wisdom in what you would have me do. Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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