Day 297: Jeremiah 10-11; 1 Timothy 3
This weekend has given me pause to reflect on 'first parish.' This is a term you may have heard me use recently, and it is a reference to the 'nuclear family.' In sociological terms, this is the basic unit of society. For believers, we see it in a deeper sense, for it is the basic unit of society ordained by Him to reflect His likeness and to perpetuate His plan. Before any human social structure existed, God set up the family as the core. It still is! Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 3 that before we step into 'parish ministry' (the ministry of the local church), we need to focus on our 'first parish' (the home). Having spent time with a family who has done that (I was honored to perform my third wedding for their family), I appreciated the evidence that God honors those who honor His plan. Parents, pray for your spouse and your children. Live out your faith genuinely. Lead by example. Admit your mistakes (we all make them). Ask for forgiveness. Offer forgiveness. Praise often. Love unconditionally. Take time to play. Spend time together. Worship together. Be who you are in Jesus...he will honor you!
P.S. We all look back with some regret. Some times we have zero control over our spouse's spiritual journey. Sometimes we join the faith journey late, ourselves. Remember that God is the God of forgiveness and new beginnings. He restores and rebuilds. Don't give up on praying! He is more invested in your family than you are...and you are all in!
P.S. We all look back with some regret. Some times we have zero control over our spouse's spiritual journey. Sometimes we join the faith journey late, ourselves. Remember that God is the God of forgiveness and new beginnings. He restores and rebuilds. Don't give up on praying! He is more invested in your family than you are...and you are all in!
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Day 1: Genesis 1-3; Psalm 1Day 2: Genesis 4-7; Psalm 2Day 3: Genesis 8-11; Psalm 3Day 4: Genesis 12-15; Psalm 4Day 5: Genesis 16-18; Psalm 5Day 6: Genesis 19-21; Psalm 6Day 7: Genesis 22-24; Psalm 7Day 8: Genesis 25-26; Psalm 8Day 9: Genesis 27-29; Psalm 9Day 10: Genesis 30-31; Psalm 10Day 11: Genesis 32-33; Psalm 11Day 12: Genesis 34-36; Psalm 12Day 13: Genesis 37-39; Psalm 13Day 14: Genesis 40-41; Psalm 14Day 15: Genesis 42-44; Psalm 15Day 16: Genesis 45-46; Psalm 16Day 17: Genesis 47-49; Psalm 17Day 18: Genesis 50 - Exodus 3; Psalm 18Day 19: Exodus 4-6; Psalm 19Day 20: Exodus 7-8; Psalm 20Day 21: Exodus 9-11; Psalm 21Day 22: Exodus 12-13; Psalm 22Day 23: Exodus 14-16; Psalm 23Day 24: Exodus 17-20; Psalm 24Day 25: Exodus 21-22; Psalm 25Day 26: Exodus 23-25; Psalm 26Day 27: Exodus 26-28; Psalm 27Day 28: Exodus 29; Psalm 28Day 29: Exodus 30-32; Psalm 29Day 30: Exodus 33-35; Psalm 30Day 31: Exodus 36-38; Psalm 31
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Day 32: Exodus 39-40; Psalm 32Day 33: Leviticus 1-4; Psalm 33Day 34: Leviticus 5-6; Psalm 34Day 35: Leviticus 7-9; Psalm 35Day 36: Leviticus 10-12; Psalm 36Day 37: Leviticus 13; Psalm 37Day 38: Leviticus 14-15; Psalm 38Day 39: Leviticus 16-17; Psalm 39Day 40: Leviticus 18-20; Psalm 40Day 41: Leviticus 21-23; Psalm 41Day 42: Leviticus 24-25; Psalm 42Day 43: Leviticus 26-27; Psalm 43Day 44: Numbers 1-2; Psalm 44Day 45: Numbers 3; Psalm 45Day 46: Numbers 4-6; Psalm 46
2 Comments
Thanks so much for the "P.S" part. Nobody has it all together 100%, as a learned friend reminded me. I have taken great comfort from that. Otherwise, envy and resentment are always ready to take over. I am relying on the One who is Perfect in all ways.
Yes, and He is utterly reliable!!!