Only Jesus Satisfies

Tim Challies had this video posted on his a la carte article today. I enjoyed it so much that I just had to post it here on my blog. This testimony, given by a young man named Tom Martin, is really precious. God is in the business of changing lives and sometimes we see His sense of humor woven into the story. Be encouraged...

Tom Martin Testimony from Covenant Life Church.

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Only Jesus Satisfies

on February 20, 2011 0 comments

How to Read Your Bible by Anne Graham Lotz

"The unfolding of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130)

"You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." (Psalm 16:11)

Let Anne Graham Lotz encourage you, as she teaches how to read your Bible. This is basically the inductive Bible study method.

You might want to start by deciding on a book of the Bible to read through. Set aside a time each day to meet with the Lord and plan to meet with Him at the same place every day. Like Ruth Graham in this video, read just a portion of the book - 4 or 5 verses - and then study those verses by asking the questions you've learned here: 1) What does the passage say - list the facts; 2) What does the passage mean?; 3) What does that passage mean to me? What lesson applies to me in the passage?

Don't set an end date to have your Bible book read. Just be faithful to meet with the Lord daily and work your way through the book, passage by passage, notebook at hand. When you finish, you will basically have written a commentary on the book you've studied. It will be for you something you can refer back to in months and years to come.

Make sure to pray before you start and as you answer the questions, be personal in your answers, applying the lessons to your own circumstances. Besides the commentary you're writing, this will also be a diary to look back on in years to come. It will be a testimony of what you were facing at the time and how God faithfully carried you through the trial or time of waiting, etc.

"For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach His statutes and rules in Israel." (Exra 7:10)

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

How to Read Your Bible by Anne Graham Lotz

on February 16, 2011 0 comments

Our Unfathomably Happy, Rejoicing God!

Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing."

Can you even begin to imagine this scene in heaven with the God of the universe rejoicing over rebels He has redeemed by His Son's shed blood? WOW!!! Unbelievable!

When we are satisfied in Him, when we are joyful in Him, when we love Jesus, when we rejoice over His steadfast love to us...in other words, when He is our utmost treasure and foremost LOVE, He exults over us with singing. LOUD singing! He quiets us with His love and rejoices over us with gladness.

The closest I can get to imagining this panorama in heaven is a scene from the movie Babe, where Farmer Hogget is nursing Babe back to health and just can't help getting up and...well just watch this video and jump for joy for God is doing this very thing when you treasure Him and His Son.

And the following video will be our response, as God's children, to His wonderful rejoicing and care for us! Oh, I love this. My heart just soars to think about how our amazing God rejoices over His satisfied, joyful children. And what does His rejoicing over us do but serve to create more endless joy in our hearts, lives and service to Him.

Don't miss what this little guy is doing while he is sitting on the couch. Notice what he has in his hands and watch his every move in relation to the video he is watching (the same one of Farmer Hogget above). Think about how we should respond to God's tender care for us in the lives of others. This little child so aptly illustrates how we should pass along the love and rejoicing God has poured out on us, becoming like Him in all respects.

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Our Unfathomably Happy, Rejoicing God!

on January 27, 2011 0 comments

Childhood - It is A-Changing

In my growing up years, playing outdoors was the default-activity for kids.

In the current age of technology, a child's default-activity has changed dramatically.

This video is quite an eye-opener. Today's children are so challenged as are their parents to escape from the "norm" - this age of technology - which is taking its toll on all of us. This is not just important, it's a matter of life and death. Please take 5 minutes to view this very important message.

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Childhood - It is A-Changing

on January 13, 2011 1 comments

An Open Door for the New Year

A Prayer

A. W. Tozer wrote the following prayer in his book, The Pursuit of God. This is my heart's cry also. I know that I am in great need of God's work of ongoing grace. Otherwise, my heart immediately begins to grow cold and unmoved by the Cross of Christ. It's just our natural inclination as we live on this low plain.

"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long."

A Challenge

As we begin this year of our LORD, 2011, may I encourage you to simply take Christ's promise to heart each day, beginning today, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20).

Invite Him in to sup with you, sit at His feet and taste again His incomparable goodness. It will never grow old and you will not regret taking this challenge to heart. And I can assure you that though you may face many difficulties in 2011 (or in any other year), this year will be the most glorious year thus far of your pilgrimage in this misty lowland.

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

An Open Door for the New Year

on January 01, 2011 2 comments

Looking Forward - An Advent Calendar

What and When is Advent?

The word "advent" means arrival or coming in Latin. Specifically, it relates to the coming of the Christ at the incarnation. Advent is celebrated in the weeks leading up to the day we set aside to remember the birth of the Messiah. It begins four Sundays before December 25, whether that Sunday is in November or December. This year Advent begins on Sunday, November 28th. However, when using an Advent calendar, counting down the days till Christmas begins either 24 or 25 days before, usually on December 1st or 2nd.

Why Do People Celebrate Advent?

Thousands of years before Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, God's people anticipated His coming. They longed and looked for the Messiah, the One who would set things right. During that time of waiting, no one knew when or how God would send the Promised One to redeem mankind.

On this side of Bethlehem when celebrating Advent, in essence, we are re-enacting the many years that God's people waited patiently and anticipated the coming of the Messiah, man's only hope for restoration with God. Now that the waiting is over we have all the more reason to rejoice because of God's indescribable gift of LOVE, His own Son. In a world that has no place for Jesus, Advent really is about preparing our hearts for the Savior - making room for and receiving Him with joy, humility and gratitude into our lives, celebrations and families.

The Advent Calendar - A Wonderful Way to Teach Your Child About the Gospel

Advent serves as a tool to point our children to Christ, the Promised Savior. An Advent calendar as a family tradition is one way children can become acquainted with the details of the incarnation. The calendar counts down to Christmas as the child opens a little door or pocket, etc. each day to reveal some small treasure that is hidden. My Advent calendar - compliments of my mom - uses little felt nativity figures. One day a Magi is revealed, another day a lamb or an angel, right up to the day before Christmas or Christmas day itself. By then, the scene is complete, baby Jesus and all.

The nativity figures, after being removed from that day's pocket, door, box or envelope, etc., could be ornaments that get hung on the tree or used to assemble a separate nativity scene. There are child-friendly creches available now that are unbreakable (see links below for purchased Advent calendars). A Portion of the Christmas story could be read, corresponding to the nativity figurine for that day until it is completed on the last day.

Start Now to Assemble Your Advent Calendar

There are a multitude of ideas available below. Also, click on the different photos in this post for links to tutorials, etc. If you start now, you should have more than enough time to be ready by December 1st. Take a look at the following links to get started; and don't forget to involve the kiddos in putting the calendar together.

http://craftastica.blogspot.com/2008/11/recycle-bin-advent-calendar.html

http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2007/11/advent-calendar.html

https://ourhouse.typepad.com/full_circle/2007/12/advent.html

http://www.craftideas.info/html/advent_calender.html

http://www.flickr.com/groups/561389@N24/

Complimentary Ideas

The nativity advent calendar can be complemented with other Advent calendars. One simple idea is to make a paper chain with each day offering an activity for your child. Tear off one chain per day and have fun with the activity. This link offers such a calendar that can be printed.

For other ideas, do an online search for advent calendars to make. You'll be surprised at the volume of ideas!

If you'd rather purchase a nativity advent calendar, here are some links:

Kurt Adler Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar with 24 Magnetic Figures (This site offers reviews for the Kurt Adler Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar. Look for the 5 stars under the name for the reviews, but go to the next site listed here for a better price.)

Advent Calendar from Catholic Supply (This site has the highly-rated Kurt Adler Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar with 24 Magnetic Figures for much less than amazon.com.)

ChristianBook.com has advent calendars to choose from also.

A Unit Study on Advent

For a great online advent calendar with more info than is imaginable, go to this website. Though many of the links found on this site are either broken or have changed, the information at this site alone is more than enough for designing a great unit study about Advent.

How has celebrating Advent in years past changed your family's perspective on Christmas?

Do you have an idea for an Advent calendar that you could share?

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Looking Forward - An Advent Calendar

on November 23, 2010 0 comments