Sophia Roberts- She witnessed open heart surgery for the first time when she was around eleven years old. While that might seem a bit young for a child to view such a medical procedure, you need to know that her dad, Dr. Harold Roberts Jr., is a heart surgeon.
In 2022, Sophia—now thirty years old and a surgery resident physician—teamed up with her dad to perform a successful aortic value replacement. Harold said, "What can be better? I taught this kid how to ride a bicycle . . . Now, to get to teach her how to operate on a human heart is pretty mind-blowing."
While few of us will teach surgery skills to a child, Solomon describes the importance of instructing something else to the next generation—to honor God and His ways. The wise king passionately shared with his child what he'd leaned in his relationship with God: "My son, . . . trust in the LORD with all your heart" (Proverbs 3;1,5), "fear the LORD (v. 11) "honor the LORD" (v.9), and "do not despise the LORD's discipline" (v. 11).
Solomon knew that God "loves' and "delights in" His children who willingly receive His correction and guidance (v. 12). Let's teach the next generation what it means to trust, revere, honor, and be humbly molded by our awesome, amazing God. To partner with Him in doing so is a vital privilege and, well, pretty mind-blowing!
Father, when we witness some amazing thing happening for the first time, even though we may be very young, we won't easily forget it. As we grow into adulthood, we may very well be influenced in a great way by what we witnessed! Help us in our process of learning, that the importance of instructing the next generation to honor You and Your ways is our commision. As You love and delight in each of us, may we listen to Your directives, and in so doing, be privileged to partner with You and to serve them!
"No matter how perfect your love, you are living with an imperfect person and there will be times your beloved sins and hurts you. That is a fact you won't change." (p.18)
1 John 18:9 "If we claim to be without sin, we decieve ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
#110 Testimony- Wesley L. Duewel
Some years ago I was scheduled to address the Christian Medical Association of India. Just before I entered the session where I was going to speak on "The Anointing of the Spirit," I turned to one of my friends, a skilled surgeon.
"Ezra, is there such a thing as the anointing of the Spirit in surgery?" I asked. Instantly my friend responded, "You bet there is, and I know when I have it and when I don't have it." The anointing can bring guidance to the surgeon as he operates.
Is there an anointing in teaching? in administration? There is. For the inventor? There is. Certainly the Spirit can anoint the research scientist to help him recognize insights and achieve an important "breakthrough."
There can be anointing on the mechanic, on the mother handling the children, on the secretary, the taxi driver, and the person learning a foreign language. I have recognized the anointing on occasion when driving in traffic. The anointing is for all. The anointing is for daily living, not just for the pulpit or the Christian writer. Remember, guidance is one aspect of anointing.
Since all of life can be holy and surrendered to God, all of it committed to His will, all of it lived in dependence on the Holy Spirit, the role of the Holy Spirit in your life is one of the most practical provisions of God for you. You can lean to live in the Spirit, to depend on the Spirit in all your daily living. Thus your life becomes transformed into a Spirit-guided, Spirit-anointed, and Spirit-enabled life.
1586-1590 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-
1586- Ez. 44:5b "Mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears
all that I say unto thee."
1587- Ez. 28:10b "For I have spoken it, saith the Lord God."
1588- Jer. 37:20a "Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king; let my supplication, I pray thee be acceptable before thee."
1589- Ps. 93:1a "The LORD reigheth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is
clothed with strength, where with he hath girded himself."
1590- Is. 4:6 "And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the
heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain."
110 Hymn- Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
The information about this song, is taken from the book by Robert J. Morgan, THEN SINGS MY SOUL (p.61) The Great Awakening of the 1700s was a heaven-sent revival to many parts of the world. In America, the preaching of
George Whitefield and
Joanthan Edwards renewed
Christian zeal and swept multitudes into the kingdom.
In England, the open-air evangelism of Whitefield and the Wesley brothers did the same. In Wales, it was the electrifying preaching of Howell Haris and his convert, William Williams.
During William's 43 years of itinerant ministry, Williams traveled over 95,000 miles, drawing crowds of 10,000 or more. He was best remembered, however, for his hymns. In all, he composed over 800 hymns, his best known being this autobiographical prayer with its many old Testiment allusions. He lived as a pilgrim, pressing through the snow of winter, the rains of springtime, and the heat of summer. He was both beaten by mobs (once nearly dying) and cheered by crowds, but in all his travels he sought only to do the will of God until his death at age 74.
This hymn was also sung at the funeral of England's Princess Diana.
Some encouraging words-
“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11 NIV).
Church Notes:
People want someone to follow that they can depend on to solve problems. They're looking for someone to lead them, not knowing that Jesus is the Aultimate One who is our High Priest sent from the Father!
God looks at our hearts to see if we're willing to obey, letting Christ be our leader and King. Often, we tend to think that we can fix our problems ourselves, but when we admit that we can't, hopefully, we'll ask for His help!
Upcoming posts:
11/8- ROYAL RETURN- Sheridan Yoysey
15th- BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING- Nancy Gavilance
22nd- WHAT YOUR FATHER WANTS- Mike Wittner
Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
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