Archive for December 2009

December 4, 2009

Pop Quiz

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." I Peter 3:15

I had to smile at the open mouths and deer-in-the-headlights eyes of my students as I outlined what the beginning of their class would look like. Pop quiz! There was a lot of murmuring and fumbling with books as they frantically tried to prepare for something they should have been prepared for. Judging by their reaction, not many had read the assigned text. Since my goal was for them to have that information, not to put a grade in the gradebook, I consented to make it an open book quiz. You could almost feel the relief in the room.

These students had been given an assignment and didn't take that assignment seriously. They were not prepared. You mom or dad, along with you, have also been given an assignment. God has called your family to stand in the gap and pray for the salvation, repentance and return of your absent parent.

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." Ezekiel 22:30

When Satan came prowling around, looking for a family to devour, he found a small place of entrance in your dad or your mom. A foothold was all he needed, especially if they were not prepared. It's hard to fight an enemy you don't realize exists. It's hard to win a battle when you don't have the right weapons.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:14-18

Then the Lord came around, looking for someone who would build up the wall and stand in the gap on behalf of those who had been deceived. He chose your mom or your dad and He chose you. I know it seems like a huge assignment and a hard one, but God does not call us without equipping us. He has opened His Word to us and given us the weapons to fight with. He has made His perfect will known and promised that if we will pick up this cross, accept this assignment, He will be with us, always.

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

The best way for my students to prepare for one of my pop quizzes is to do the reading; complete the task they have been assigned. One of the best ways for us to be prepared is to do the reading, too. Spending time daily in God's Word not only gives us knowledge and understanding, but gives wisdom, direction, guidance and comfort.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

The Lord's Word is our arsenal and frequent prayers are our weapons. It's easy to fight an enemy when we have the right weapons and know we have already been promised a victory. The Bible is filled with stories of people who have stood in the gap for others, for their nation, and for their families and have been successful. These men and women of the Bible often faced impossible odds and daunting tasks, but with the Lord there was victory. He makes this promise to us as well. No matter how difficult something is, no matter how long it takes, no matter the impossible circumstances, in God we have the victory.

"With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall…It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." Psalm 18:29, 32-35

If we do the possible, God can do the impossible. Nothing is too hard for Him. All He asks is that we be ready, be prepared, be prayed up. If we accept the assignment God has given us and do our homework, then we will be ready for any sort of pop quiz that gets thrown our way.

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6

Now go study for your quiz,
Kim, standing in Nebraska
http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org


	Archive for December 2009 December 4, 2009 Pop Quiz "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." I Peter 3:15 I had to smile at the open mouths and deer-in-the-headlights eyes of my students as I outlined what the beginning of their class would look like. Pop quiz! There was a lot of murmuring and fumbling with books as they frantically tried to prepare for something they should have been prepared for. Judging by their reaction, not many had read the assigned text. Since my goal was for them to have that information, not to put a grade in the gradebook, I consented to make it an open book quiz. You could almost feel the relief in the room. These students had been given an assignment and didn't take that assignment seriously. They were not prepared. You mom or dad, along with you, have also been given an assignment. God has called your family to stand in the gap and pray for the salvation, repentance and return of your absent parent. "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." Ezekiel 22:30 When Satan came prowling around, looking for a family to devour, he found a small place of entrance in your dad or your mom. A foothold was all he needed, especially if they were not prepared. It's hard to fight an enemy you don't realize exists. It's hard to win a battle when you don't have the right weapons. "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:14-18 Then the Lord came around, looking for someone who would build up the wall and stand in the gap on behalf of those who had been deceived. He chose your mom or your dad and He chose you. I know it seems like a huge assignment and a hard one, but God does not call us without equipping us. He has opened His Word to us and given us the weapons to fight with. He has made His perfect will known and promised that if we will pick up this cross, accept this assignment, He will be with us, always. "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 The best way for my students to prepare for one of my pop quizzes is to do the reading; complete the task they have been assigned. One of the best ways for us to be prepared is to do the reading, too. Spending time daily in God's Word not only gives us knowledge and understanding, but gives wisdom, direction, guidance and comfort. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16 The Lord's Word is our arsenal and frequent prayers are our weapons. It's easy to fight an enemy when we have the right weapons and know we have already been promised a victory. The Bible is filled with stories of people who have stood in the gap for others, for their nation, and for their families and have been successful. These men and women of the Bible often faced impossible odds and daunting tasks, but with the Lord there was victory. He makes this promise to us as well. No matter how difficult something is, no matter how long it takes, no matter the impossible circumstances, in God we have the victory. "With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall…It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." Psalm 18:29, 32-35 If we do the possible, God can do the impossible. Nothing is too hard for Him. All He asks is that we be ready, be prepared, be prayed up. If we accept the assignment God has given us and do our homework, then we will be ready for any sort of pop quiz that gets thrown our way. "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6 Now go study for your quiz, *Kim, standing in Nebraska* http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org
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