Teaching

"Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done." Psalm 78:3-4

What are You Teaching Others?

Teach means "to impart knowledge or skill to". Each of us whether we are young or old, whether we are married or single, whether we have children or not.... are teaching someone. Sometimes it is direct and personal teaching... like a mom to a child. Sometimes it's indirect and distant... like someone observing what you do or how you handle a situation... and is learning from you. We are all teachers... and yet we are all students.

Be Careful:

Sometimes I fear we concentrate on mental, physical, or social growth MORE than spiritual growth. We must remember to take time to impart spiritual truths unto others on a daily basis. Do we teach them devotion time with the Lord? Do we teach them giving to others and having a servant's heart?

We actively will "impart knowledge/skill" to our children how to sit still or how to eat properly, but do we take time to teach them Bible stories like David/Goliath or Biblical truths like honesty and kindness?

Are we actively "imparting knowledge" to those around us about Jesus Christ? About the Bible? About the Christian Life? How so? How do we not?

Be Patient:

"I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments." Psalm 119:7

This verse reminds me that it takes time to teach others... They become righteous through time and training. They praise God with an upright heart after they been invested in and have learned Bible truths. Don't give up. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with others. 

Draw From God's Word:

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Proverbs 31:26

We are all students of God's Word. Recently, I was reading through Psalm 119 and found some great lessons for me to think about and impart unto others. As you read your Bible, you gain wisdom and knowledge. It is truth that you can share and encourage others with. It is the best source of knowledge that you can impart onto others. Here are a few of those lessons:

Lessons in Psalm: Do not lie. Choose to be truthful. "Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me." Psalm 119:29-30

Lesson #2: Don't be covetous of earthly things; desire the Bible instead. "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness." Psalm 119:36

Lesson #3: A love and meditation on God's Word! "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97

Teach the Truth. Teach the Bible. Teach Godliness.

2 Poems

"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" Psalm 56:8

2 Poems:

Starting with graduating from high school and then into my young adult years, I wrote some poems. Okay, so I am more of a book reader and blogger, not really a poem writer, but the funny thing is, these poems still have good truths that I can reflect on today. Poems are unique. A story can be long... and yet you only remember the main storyline and the main characters... but poems most of the time don't have characters... or even a plot. Sometimes it is the emotion or a deep thought that you remember most. So after rereading my poems, I am sharing them with you.

#1 "Broken Heart"

By Yuliya P.

Feelings within my heart,

Heartache, hatred, hurt.

Beautiful sister, sweet brother,

Longing, sadness, jealousy.

"I'm alone. There's no one,

No one here beside me."

Alone.

Leaving childhood, starting life.

Scared, frightened, depressed.

Moving elsewhere? Ending life here.

Unhappy, fear, ill.

Who am I?

Sad, selfish, stubborn,

Depressed, pathetic, ugly.

I'm broken.

Broken.

Broken.

#2 "Tears"

By Yuliya P.

My friend, my Jesus, my Lord,

I come to you with tears,

Because of hopes, dreams, and fears,

Yet, Your Words, I have stored.

Guide me, I pray,

And through the trouble I face,

Remind me of your loving grace;

So that I may smile each day.

Yet, darkened is my heart with sin,

The pain I feel is great;

As pouring rain, tears do flow.

Yet, Jesus, each tear helps me grow,

Cleanses my darkened slate,

And brightens my heart within.

Young Adult Years:

During those young adult years, I struggled alot. I went through many things. I made quite a few mistakes, too, then had to confess and apologize. It was a very emotional time in my life. I struggled with self-identity most. I didn't know the way. I felt like I was lost in the woods. I think writing these poems helped me understand what I was going though. Yes, I got through it. I am no longer stuck in these emotions. BUT....They still do come up ever now and then. (I'm human.) That's okay.

Maturing Adult:

Even then, I wrote... about Jesus and His love for me. Even when I ran away, He still waited for me and accepted me when I came back. He says "I will never leave thee nor forsake me." (Heb. 13:5) He is my way and now I follow Him. He gives me light. I have become a bright light because of what Jesus has done for me, especially through those darkest moments of my life. Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the light." (John 14:6)

Having these emotions of sadness or anxiety is a part of life, but it's in those times that we look for the answers IN HIM! God's plan was never for us to endure our lives, but to enjoy! Times of confusion, yes. Times of sorrow, yes. Those may come...

But the answer is always the same. Psalm 56:3 "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

The Last Days

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Revelation 3:18

The Last Days:

The world around us is changing rapidly. Do a little bit of research and you will discover that the signs of Christ's return is here..... there are too many to mention. Jesus Christ is coming soon. As believers, are we ready for the judgement seat of Christ?

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12

Unsaved/Unbelieving world:

If you have never received Christ as your Savior, please don't hesitate, (my salvation story) ... Today is the acceptable day of salvation. God created a perfect world for us to live in. Adam and Eve made a mistake and sinned against God. God loved us so much that he sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins! Through His death, we are forgiven for our sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness. By his payment and death, He created a bridge for us to enter into Heaven. He is the only way there. If we confess our sins and accept Jesus as our Saviour, we will free from our sin and eternal death, and will pass over from death/hell into heaven/eternal life. Please don't wait another day to confirm this in your heart. I want to see you in Heaven. (Genesis 1-3, John 3:16, 1 John 1:9, John 14:6, Romans 3:23-24, Phil. 2:5-11)

What should Christian do during the last days?

Preach the gospel. Share the good news. Tell someone about Jesus and what He has done for you. (Mark 16:14)

Be a good example of Christ. We are called to be followers of Christ and live by his example. (1 Cor. 11:1)

Read the Bible and study it. Meditate on it. (2 Tim. 2:15, 2 Tim. 3:16)

Obey His commandments. (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17, Col. 3:23)

God's Commands to the Last Church:

Read Revelation 3:14-22

Gold tried in a fire: Be spiritually strong.

~ Have you read your Bible? Have you prayed? Do you depend on God to help you? Are you faithful to the house of the Lord?

White raiment: Keep yourself pure.

~ Are you keeping from the evils and distractions of this world? Are you keeping yourself pure in God's eyes? (1 Thes. 5:12, 2 Tim. 2:22, Mat. 5:8)

Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve: Be watchful and aware.

~ Are you sensitive to you the world around you? Are you listening the Holy Spirit's leading?

Be zealous: Be passionate and on fire for God!

~ Are you passionate about your ministry? Are you passionate about what Christ has done for you? Share it! Use your talents to draw others closer to Christ. Burn with desire to do what God has called you to do!

Repent: Seek forgiveness for sins.

~ Have you asked God for forgiveness? For yourself, for others, for our nation, for our faults. God tells His people to repent and turn back to Him. (2 Chro. 7:14)

Christ is waiting:

This generation is too distracted to notice that Christ is looking to come into your life and have a full and meaningful relationship with you. He says here:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

Christ loves you and wants to be your friend. Will you open the door and let him in?

Busy Summer

"He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame." Proverbs 10:5

Busy Busy Summer:

So the last time I posted.... was over a month ago! I am beginning to understand why school is September through May. Haha! This summer, as you may recall from my previous post, I started to do lots of gardening. I absolutely love it! We have been enjoying all that God has given us, but it has also kept me quite busy. I've had to spend time watering it, digging up the weeds, then harvesting and preserving the bounty! :)

Gardening isn't the only thing that has taken up my time from blogging, I have also been very busy with family activities/outings and enjoying the summer sun/holidays! :) Lastly, I have decided to try and read 5 books for my local library reading program. I have learned many things about gardening, being a locavore, and building a creative home. :)

Bindweed (aka Wild Morning Glory):

Last year, when we moved in to this duplex, my neighbor suggested to me that I get rid of the Bindweed. She told me that it would overtake my backyard. At the time, I didn't do what she suggested (plus I thought it was a pretty plant)....... and it took over the whole hill that goes across my backyard and COMPLETELY covered every plant down there! At the beginning of this summer, I began to destroy that monster of a plant. UGH! It's hard work to get rid of it!

Well, I made an awful mistake. We didn't have the yard waste disposal yet, and I allowed this thing to sit in a waste bin and even laid some on the ground on my lawn....... BIG mistake. My husband, this past week, mowed our lawn.... guess what I discovered? In those few weeks, it had covered a good portion of the lawn as well!

Bindweed doesn't just cover the surface, it grows underneath up to 30 feet in length! Now, daily I am pulling up vines of this stuff.... Daily, I am trying to keep it from growing more and invading more of my lawn!! FRUSTRATING!

A Need for a Pastor/Godly Wise Counsel:

I wish I would have listened to my neighbor's counsel. I wish I would have sought advice from someone who knew gardening and had knowledge of Northwest plants! I wish I would have been taught in gardening/weeds so I could have avoided this costly mistake!

"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." Proverbs 9:9

Now, I know, that a pastor does many things, including fulfilling the great commission, but he is also there to give wise spiritual counsel. A pastor has dedicated his life to the ministry of obeying God, loving/serving others, and leading people to Christ. When he preaches, it's not just to lead others to Christ... He also is showing us what to do with the "Awful Bindweed in Your Garden". God gave us pastors to protect us from things that can harm the good in our lives and destroy everything of beauty! He can tell you: "Watch out! This will cost you a headache, frustration, and loads of problems!" Pastors can help give us instructions on how to better use our talents for the Lord; similarly, a good knowledgeable gardener can show me how to grow healthy and fruitful herbs and veggies. 

Last thought: remember, I didn't listen..... and it cost me. Not listening or taking the advice of our spiritual leaders can lead us into some problems. Let's listen to our parents and pastor. Heed the counsel and warnings of our God-given authority and we will reap the benefits/avoid those pesky "bindweeds"!

"The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall." Proverbs 10:8

Remember:

A experienced and seasoned gardener can teach me how to have a successful and sustaining gardening; in the same way, Pastors, godly leaders, and godly wise women (maybe a pastor's wife or an elderly lady in the church) can help us to make the right decisions and reap an abundant Christian life. :)

The Whole Story

"For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, 

I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 

(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him..." Proverbs 7:6-13

Did You Read It?

So I posted these verses on Facebook as my status and wrote at the end, "Read the rest of this chapter to get the whole story. There is much true here." The likes I had on it were much less than my usual "Bible verse" posts. So it makes me wonder?.....

Did you read the whole story? Did you see all the truths?

.... or did you only noticing "the harlot" and did it make you uncomfortable?

If that's why you didn't like it, I understand. It's easier to not associate ourselves with that, but unfortunately, our society is becoming more and more like this story.

Here is Why I Posted This:

"For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones"

OBSERVED: The writer is observing what is happening outside the window. The writer is walking circumspectly and watching the circumstances around him. Are you aware of your surroundings? (Eph. 5:15)

"I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house."

OBLIVIOUS/THE SIMPLE: This man went somewhere he wasn't suppose to go. This man didn't have understanding. He went "near her corner", like a child that played with fire and got burnt. Do you get involved with things you shouldn't? Reading your Bible will give you better insight on things that you need to avoid. :)

"In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night"

THE NIGHT/DARKNESS: Are you up later than you should be? Are you going places at night where you shouldn't be going? "Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19 Go to sleep early. Set for yourself a curfew. :)

"(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) "

SEEKING ATTENTION: This woman left her own home and went seeking after problems. Are you minding your own business and doing what God has told you to do? Or are you getting into trouble? "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;" 1 Thes. 4:11 Memorize this verse. Stay busy with things that honor and please God. :)

My Thoughts:

Whenever I post anything, I'm always double checking myself and very cautious about each word, paragraph, and the meaning behind it. This story is so relevant to our generation. It is an important one to study. I only give the preview, because God tells us to study His Word for ourselves. (2 Tim. 2:15) We must know our Bible and let His truths enter our heart.

As for the harlot.... Have we forgotten about God's love toward Rehab, the harlot? She became the grandma to Boaz, Ruth's husband. :D Or His love for the Samaritan woman who had 5 husbands and wasn't married to the man she was living with? Or His forgiveness toward the woman caught in the act of adultery?

I make mistakes and get myself in trouble. I'm an imperfect wife and mother: as the quote goes "to err is human". When I read this woman's story, I can learn from her mistakes and grow in godliness. I can avoid pitfalls and sins that so easily beset me. I can be a changed woman and live godly and wisely (like the writer). That's why I like this story. :)

God loves the sinner and forgives their sins... even this woman in Proverbs 7. We don't know the end of her life, but this part is here to give us an example of how to avoid temptations in our life/society. 

We don't know her whole story, only God does.

God Gave Me a Garden

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Gen 1:29 KJV

Discoveries:

I have been enjoying reading through my Bible year after year. Recently God started to show me all the different verses that talk specifically about gardening. There are SO MANY references to growing food and harvesting. Key Words to look up: herbs, plant, sow, harvest. God is our good Gardener and Creator of all Good things! He has grown more in your backyard than you can imagine! Have you ever stopped to look in your yard to see what plants, herbs, or fruits God may have given you to eat? 

(Did you know Dandelions are edible? Did you know they are considered to be a "bitter herb"? By the way, in Europe, they are harvested for food. Did you know God talks about them in His Word? Ex. 12:8)

Research/Wait:

"Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house." Prov. 24:27

Before I destroyed any part of my backyard, I did ALOT of research to discover what I already had. I found out that I have MORE edible foods than I thought possible! :) God loves to give good gifts to His children! Here is a list of what God has given me:

* Blackberries
* Green Plums
* Cherry Plums
* Two Hazelnut trees
* Horseradish roots
* Lots of Dandelions
* Clovers

I have borrowed books from the library such as: "Your Farm in the City", "Compost", "Organic Gardening, and "Western Garden Book of Edibles". All excellent reads! I got an app that shows you what plants you may have. It's called "LikeThat Garden". I started "gardening journaling" to keep track of my plants/fruits so that I could maintain them.

Laboring/Working:

I stepped out in faith believing that God will give the things I needed to succeed. I began planning on what to weed out. I began a compost for helping the soil to continue to thrive. As I labored, God blessed my efforts and, through the generosity of family, gave me some seeds and some herbs for my growing gardening!

Adding to the List:

* 7 Herbs (Dill, Rosemary, Cilantro, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Sage)
* A tomato plant
* Onions
* Lettuce
* Carrots
* Snap Peas

I know if I am faithful in maintaining and caring for my garden, God will continue to bless my work. He is my gardener. I am his servant.

Results:

I am already planning on preserving the fruits and berries by canning. I am excited to enjoy the herbs throughout the summer and preserve them for winter. I can't wait to taste the veggies and show my daughters how they are formed. 

This edible backyard will teach me more about my Creator. Just as I prune my fruit trees, God will teach me how to "prune" myself. Just as I weed out the bad plants, God will teach me how to weed out the sin out of my life. I'm excited to learn about God's Garden.

"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: 

Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." Prov. 9:9

Friendship in Four Parts (P4)

"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

My Best Friend:

(Jesus Christ to John, the disciple Jesus Loved)

Who is your best friend?… Write their name down.

Each of us have an earthly best friend, even Jesus did. John is referred to… as the disciple that Jesus loved. Jesus revealed to John the "revelation" of this world. He got to see visions of the last days before anyone else. John was always near Jesus. He was as close to Jesus as he could be….

Do you realize that you have a best friend? Someone who will NEVER leave you nor forsake you. You have the perfect friend already. You just need to get to know Him better.

Jesus has always been my best friend. I am "alone" most of the day... but I'm not really alone ever. I talk with Jesus all day long. I tell him my trials, I ask Him for wisdom and insights on daily tasks, I even asked Him to help me write this lesson and what to say to you. I am always talking to Him and continuously trying to read more of His Word, the Bible. He teaches me how to be a good friend to others. He is the best example for me to follow, because He has never failed and never will fail in our friendship. He will always have a listening ear and understanding heart toward me. He loves me more than anyone else ever has. (John 15:13, John 10:17-18)

And He is there for you. Talk to Him. :)

     Ways to Grow Closer to Christ:

     #1 Pray. ~ OFTEN. DAILY. ALL THE TIME.~ (1 Thess. 5:17, Psalm 65:2)

     #2 Read and Study your Bible. (Psalm 119)

          ~ Every day. Meditate on it.

     #3 Go to church. (Psalms 27:4-5)

          ~ Don't just be a faithful attender… but get involved.

     #4 Sing Bible hymns and songs.

          ~They encourage you. They talk about Jesus.

     #5 Love others, especially other Christians. (John 13:35)

          ~As you serve others, you learn more about Jesus' love for you.

          ~This how the world will know that you follow Him!