The Bible as a Tool for Worship

Have you noticed, we have become casual in our worship? Friendship with the Lord is critical but so is knowing who we are in that relationship. We have lost the feeling and awareness of the awesomeness of a Holy God. Unless we get who we are and who God is, I think it is difficult to worship Him.

The Bible shows us who we are and who God is. 

Here are some really good scripture verses to get us ready and even willing to worship the Creator of the Universe, who intimately desires  to be close to us (as evidenced by Jesus).

Our God is big and He is personal.

God as King: "I saw the Lord seated on a throne high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple" (Isaiah 6: 1).

God as Lord: "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal, and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever" (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

God as Creator: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?"( Job 38).

God as Eternal: "I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 21: 6).

When I read through Scripture and ask God to reveal himself to me, then I find I am ready to worship the one and only true God.

Here is short and worshipful prayer: 

God, you are the  Eternal  King, Lord, and Creator. May all honor, might, and glory be yours forever. Amen

How do you train your kids to have a right attitude and perspective when it comes worshiping and approaching our Holy God? 

With faith, hope, and love,

Lori Wildenberg
co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting 
author, speaker, licensed parent and family educator
Contact Lori for your next event, parent workshop, or parent consulting.
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How to Pray the Scriptures

Did you know the only training type request the disciples had for Jesus was, "Teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1)? Even the disciples struggled with prayer. Jesus then taught his followers the prayer we have come to know as the Lord's prayer.

Scripture is filled with prayers of the faithful, in both the Old and New Testaments. Prayers of petition, confession, thanksgiving, and worship.

One of the best ways to pray is to take a passage from Scripture and turn it into a prayer.

Here are a few typical parent prayers for your kids:

A Prayer for Salvation based on 2 Peter 3:9

Lord,
I know that You are a promise keeper. You fulfill your promises in in Your perfect time. You are patient with (child's name) , and you do not want him or her to perish. You desire to have my child come to repentance. Please draw (name) to yourself. Amen

A Prayer for Spiritual Passion and Protection based on Psalm 119:10-11, 89, 97,99, 103, 105,106 

Father,
Give my child a desire to seek You with all his/her heart. Place your word in (name) heart and mind. Your word is eternal, Lord. Draw (name) to Your word and stir a passion in him/her to mediate on your statutes. I ask that Your words become sweeter than honey to my child's mouth. Let Your word be a lamp unto (name) feet and a light onto his/her path. Amen

A Prayer for Character Development based on Philippians 1:9-11

God,
I pray that (name) love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that he/ she is able to discern what is best, pure, and blameless. Fill (name) with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. Amen

Pray God's word back to him. His word is powerful. His promises are true.

What are your favorite prayers that you have crafted from the Bible for your kids? 

With faith, hope, and love,
Lori Wildenberg
co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting 
author, speaker, licensed parent and family educator
Contact Lori for your next event, parent workshop, or parent consulting.
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Let Your Child Read This Highly Controversial Book This Summer!

One eight-year-old autistic boy made it into the news recently when told he couldn't read this book during free time at school. And this controversial book is banned in approximately 52 countries (Note: I also found some information disputed this statistic.)

So what is this highly controversial and often misunderstood book?

The Bible.

The Bible is scientifically and historically accurate. 

BUT it was not written with those purposes in mind. For example: the word dinosaur is not mentioned in Scripture. (Although many think, me included,dinosaurs are spoken of in the book of Job 40-41.) Armadillos, raccoon, and kangaroos among many other living creatures are not mentioned either. Not being mentioned doesn't mean these creatures don't or haven't existed. Nor does it mean the Bible isn't true if they are not listed.

The writings in Scripture spanned three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. God's word was not written to be a world history book since North and South America, Australia, and Antarctica are missing. But the  history contained in the Bible is proven to be accurate.

The Big Black Book was written so we come to know God. 

It is God's love letter to the human race. It supplies strength for us to live and gives us the direction for us to live well. The Bible provides love, soul food, and direction for the human spirit. (Things I need each day.)

God's word is DAILY bread.

God says his word is living and active, true, and full of power. Here are some good verses to look up to see what the Bible says about God's Word: John 17:20, John 20:30-31; Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12.

So how can we go about digging into the Lord's word on a daily basis? 

Here are a few ideas that will help with personal study and some ideas that will help you train your kids how read the Bible:

1. Pick a time of day and commit to it but be flexible. If one day doesn't work out, figure out a time to work it in.
2. Choose one book or topic. If you pick a topic go to the back of your Bible , look at the concordance (looks like an index), and find the verses that match your chosen topic. Or you  can go to Bible Gateway and plug in your subject. Start small. Read a couple verses at a time. Make it DO-ABLE.
3. When studying your chosen verse or topic ask yourself: or your child:

• What is this passage about? (facts)
• What did I learn form this verse? (principles)
• How can I apply this to my life? (application)

4. Reflect and meditate on what was learned through out the day. Talk about what you read and what God showed you in everyday conversation.

Before you or your child start reading, pray.

Father,

Thank you for your Word. 

I pray you open my head and heart to the things you want to teach me (or my child). 

Amen

It's Memorial Day and summer is approaching. My structured Bible study is over. So...now I have the challenge of reading God's Word without the accountability of a group. I decided, I'm going to put 1-4 into action (with God's help of course!).

What tips do you have for  personal Bible study?

With faith, hope, and love,

Lori Wildenberg
co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting 
author, speaker, licensed parent and family educator
Contact Lori for your next event, parent workshop, or parent consulting.
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What is the Bible?

Did you know the Bible is always a best seller, the best seller? It is the single most published book with 150,000 copies sold EACH year! And it comes in 1200 languages. It's truth withstands the test of  ANY scientific discovery.

So...what is the Bible? What would you say to someone who really didn't know? Here are some bullet points that might be helpful:

• The Bible is the inspired and true word of God written by men. (if God could create the world, authoring a book is small potatoes.) It is God's love letter to us! God wants to be known. 
• It is one large book with  66 smaller books contained in it.
• All 66 books have a common theme running through them (Pretty amazing huh? Do you have 66 books with a common theme on your book shelves? Okay, 25? How about even ten books with a different authors?) In the 66 books of the Bible, the main character is God and the theme is God's plan of redemption for His people. His story is one great narrative of creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration. 
• Of those 66 books, there are 40 authors. The authors come from different walks of life: soldiers, kings, scholars, prisoners, and fishermen.
• There are various types of writing styles and purposes for each of the books, depending on how God used each author: Historical narrative, poetry, prophecy, and instruction are all contained in this one book.
• There are a many different published versions. The three most popular are The NIV ( New International Version, a thought for thought translation),  The New American Standard (word for word), and the Message (a paraphrased version).  
• The Bible, in its entirety, was written over a span of approximately 1500 years. The Bible is divided into two large sections: The Old Testament and The New Testament.  The word testament means promise or covenant.There are 39 OT books and 27 NT books. The Old Testament supports the New Testament and the New supports the Old. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

So..how many Bibles do you own? Maybe the better question is how many do you open? So dust off your Bible and crack it open, the God of the Universe is speaking to you.

With faith, hope, and love,

Lori Wildenberg

co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting
author, speaker, licensed parent and family educator

contact Lori to speak at your next event

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Three lessons from Samson's Mama

Have you ever given Samson's mama a second glance? Normally I just glaze right over the part about his unnamed mother and focus on the big story...Samson and Delilah.

Until recently...

I'm working on a manuscript which has caused me to look at moms in the Bible more closely. Samson's mama has struck me as a normal, faithful woman. She's someone I would want to hang out with. She is a woman living life unexpectedly.

She didn't expect to be childless.
She didn't expect the angel of the LORD to meet her in her quiet time.
She didn't expect her blessed boy to choose a Philistine wife.

I love her story. It's like mine. 

I didn't expect to go through infertility.
I didn't expect God to speak so clearly regarding his plans for my family.
I didn't expect my oldest to step off the expected path.

Here's what Samson's mom has taught me:

When I am suffering, God will show up.
When I am praying, God will show up.
When I am parenting, God will show up.

God is with me!

The Lord is my comforter. And...like Samson's mom, I need to release my choke hold on my young adult. I must move out of the way and trust that God will  "do his thing" with my child. My job is to love while speaking truth with grace, respect, and humility. Because...God is also with my kid!

Lisa Shaw, host of Women of the Roundtable, a podcast radio program, invited Julie Sanders, Dori Cook, and me to participate in a discussion about inspiring women of the Bible. Julie chose Phoebe. Dori picked Leah. And as you may have guessed,  Samson's unnamed mom was my gal!

For more on Samson's mom read Judges 13-14. Samson's story can be found in Judges 13-16.

Which woman (or man) of the Bible inspires You? I'd love to hear!

Faith, hope, and love,
Lori 

If you liked this blog you may also enjoy www.1Corinthians13Parenting.com 

The LORD is with me; he is my helper. 

Psalm 118:7

Open or Shut?

“Shut down.” 

This was an expression my nephew used to get around his family’s rule of not saying, “Shut Up.”

Recently I heard a program on Christian radio where the man being interviewed said something like, “Scripture quoting people need to go away.” He and his family had gone and are still going through a huge and heart-breaking difficulty. Their son had been arrested for drug use. The young man was raised in a faith-filled home with Christian values and a strong family support system. In spite of that, he had become addicted to drugs and is now serving time.

Painful for all. 

“Bible versing” individuals are well-intended. (Have you noticed, often these words are delivered with a Cheshire cat-like smile and the obligatory hug?) But… the person on the receiving end feels as if he has just been smacked with a pious and judgmental sermon. Another hit to a person or family already bruised and beat-up. 

This man wanted those folks to –Shut down. 

I can relate.

There have been crises where I have yearned to hear God’s Word and cling to Biblical promises. Riding in the ambulance down the mountain- praying we get to the hospital in time. Sitting in the Trauma 10 Emergency Surgery Waiting Room-praying my child will come through the operation, holding my girl’s hand while she lay in her hospital bed recuperating, or sitting with my dad while he was breathing his last earthly breath. Those are the moments I have craved words from the Big, Black Book. In those spaces I desire to recall God's word and craft my prayers from Scripture to remind me of God’s goodness and His healing power.

Then the inspired Word brings hope in the midst of tragedy or sadness.

But… times when one of my kids is going through a trial-due to his or her own choosing and the rest of the family is in a place of suffering due to those choices, encouragement, at least for me (and for the dad on the radio), is not found in someone giving me “Godly advice” or casually spitting out a memorized passage.

Please… well- meaning Christian folks….shut down.

This may not sound very Christian but please don’t toss a piece of sermonized scripture at me.(Not to be arrogant, but I do know God's Word-like that dad- and His promises. And when I've been in those hard places, believe me,I have been seeking his guidance. And... frankly I'm hanging on for dear life.) Instead offer compassion and encouragement in the form of listening, asking how to pray, and offering to pray. Support my family and me by praying for protection for our marriage, faith, and family. 

When I am hurting, I need love not a lecture.

Join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Romans 15: 30b

and 

Let us encourage one another.

Hebrews 10:25b

What encourages you when going through a time of suffering?