Please don’t think I am “downing” my Bible growing up. I loved it. It was very, very precious to me. I just remember how tough it was for me to read and study it. I was very bright, but the translation that was used most often during my childhood was the King James Version. As a kid, reading the King James Version was quite hard and frustrating. All of the formal language (thee and thou…shouldst and didst) got in the way and distracted me from the message. I didn’t understand a word of it. It always put me to sleep.

Over the years since the 1600s, other biblical translations that are easier to understand have been produced. These translations use modern language to bring God’s Word to life. For kids, this is the best way to get them to read the Bible and really understand it. We want to connect them to God in any way that we can.

Of course, it is not just the translation, it can also be the presentation of the Bible. We want the most child-friendly Bible that we can find. We want to find the one that draws them into the Bible and makes them want to dig in each and every day.

Younger kids often tune out if you ask them to read something without pictures. What else can you do? Why not read to them from a bedtime Bible story book? We spent many, many precious hours reading through ours each night and talking about everything from the story to the pictures. The very best story-book we could invest in is a Bible story-book. Look for one that is beautifully illustrated. It is a priceless investment. There are going to be many things that you will wish you had not spent your money on when your kids are grown. The one thing that you will not regret is your children’s Bible story book. Be picky. Invest in the best.

Also, watch out for the language in your choice. The formal language of the King James Version can still too much for kids so why not choose another translation? One translation that is good for kids is The Message. The words read like a story book. Realize that the Bible is not a fairy tale but a collection of historical encounters with God. With that in mind, you’ll love to share these stories from a well-written translation with your kids. Read expressively. Change your tone of voice to show a change in emotion of the characters and make the story more interesting. As they drift off to sleep, God will be on their mind.

As kids age and can read by themselves, choose a children’s Bible with a friendly translation and a few pictures if you can. The pictures help the child to visualize what is being said in the Scriptures. I still remember pictures from my childhood Bible. I spent hours studying them. I still remember them vividly, they stick with you throughout your life.

Use their children’s Bible to teach higher reading skills. Once they understand more, the questions will come. Some children’s Bibles feature the popular Bible stories and very little else. That is okay for younger kids. As a Christian parent, you can fill in the gaps. Once they are old enough to read for themselves, you can change to a more structured children’s Bible. We prefer large-print editions for our little ones. My children always loved the larger print, especially when reading longer passages or for longer periods of time.

For teens, choose a Bible translation like the NIV (New International Version), NLT (New Living Translation), ESV (English Standard Version). Of course, your teens may be like mine and love The Message. Choose the translation that “speaks” to them. Choose that one that gets them reading and studying. Look for one that cuts out most of the formal language and uses words that they can understand. They will be able to read a passage and study it without having to struggle with the language first. Deciphering the language can be very frustrating to kids and may even turn them away from wanting to learn more.

Kids are more likely to read the Bible when they can understand it. Once you find the version that keeps your child interested and wanting to know more, you’ll see that children can be really enjoy the Bible and begin to implement God’s teaching into their daily lives. Once this happens, a dialogue can begin between you and your children about what God is trying to tell them.

The ultimate goals is that your children really come to KNOW God and love Him as their own God. God wants to have a personal relationship with them. It all begins as we help open the door for Him to speak to our children in their very own language.

Why not help them find their own Bible today and dig in?

Hot weather. No prob! “The hotter the better” is always my mind-set!

Now getting a sun tan isn’t just about “ME” though. When I am suntanning, I usually do my quiet time, work on articles, read through and do my school work and copywork. I love that time to just have time to meditate on God’s Word and pray (talk) to Him!! Something about that time takes my focus off of the busyness, the pressures, and everything else that life can bring my way…and turns my complete focus upon Jesus.

I have been reading a book called “Wait for Me” by one of my favorite singer/writers, Rebecca St. James. She also expresses this in her book…

Quote:

“On days off, from time to time, I visit a bed-and-breakfast. it is a wonderful time to be still, play, rest, sometimes fast, and just be…with God. I have had some amazingly memorable times when I’m there. One trip in particular stands out in my mind. I was sitting on the front porch of the house, watching the sunset. It was that time of day when you can face the sun without being blinded by its usual brightness. I had been gazing intently at the sky in the direction of the sun when a bird caught my attention in a nearby tree. I shifted my eyes to look at it, and all of the sudden, my vision blacked out for a moment. I had to blink my eyes a few times to restore vision enough to see the bird. I realized that my eyes had so adjusted to the brightness of the western sky that the things around me had faded into the background and could not be seen as long as my eyes stayed focused toward the sun. I felt God speak to my spirit with a spiritual parallel to this picture. When we focus our eyes on the Son, Jesus, then the things of this world, its temptations, fears, and hurts pale in significance. They fade into the background.”

Excerpted from Wait for Me by Rebecca St. James

What if we were to get an intense focus on the Son of God? What if we were to let all of the distractions fade away? What if we let go of trying to be the “godliest”… the “prettiest”… the “homeliest” person around? What if we stopped the competition between each other to just focus on God? What if we could look past the pain of our mistakes and focus on Jesus instead?

I have seen way too many people be way too uptight, as we all can be from time-to-time! We have such a tendency to get so caught up in the contest of life that we forget to look at Jesus, the only One with all the answers to everything–diets, true beauty, healing, love, happiness, EVERYTHING!

So, just for today. Why not join me to bask in the SON? Why not take a little time just to look at how Jesus spent His time? Why not slow down and just talk your heart out to Him–and let HIM talk to you? Why not take just bit of your day to look up at the Son and marvel at His beauty and light? Why not soak up His power? Oh, why not GO OUT TODAY AND GET YOURSELF AN AWESOME SUNTAN…or SON-TAN! Or…just do both!!

Jesus loves you so very much!!!

Luv ya tons,
Elisabeth Rushton

Off my soapbox! hehe!

We were going through our daily study yesterday when something grabbed me away from the study–I have an inclination towards this with ANY study that I pursue! Of course, this one is GOOD! So good that I just wanted to share it with you. I think you will love it!

I am not sure how many of you really “connect” with Abraham in his story throughout Genesis. I guess that besides Jesus, he was the first person in the Scripture that I really “connected with.” His life seemed to parallel the life that Harold and I were required to walk in our life journey. I found Abraham to be a mentor from the very beginning. Everything about his life story ministers to me in the various aspects of my life journey.

One thing that hit me fresh as we were studying yesterday was that Abraham WENT THE DISTANCE!

Soak that in.

Abraham WENT THE DISTANCE…

Did you get that? He was called to leave his home, his homeland, his family to go to a place. Yep, a place that he was not even told about at the beginning.

Just leave and go to–A PLACE!

Yet, he went the distance!

Just think about how tough that was… Really put yourself in his position. Picture it in your mind.

He was called out of a culture that was much like our culture. He lived in a bustling city with all of the comforts of city living. He came from a large, “connected,” and very close-knit family.

So, why did God call him away. Why did God call him to leave it all and go the distance?  Well, beloved, Abraham was much like all of us. Living in the city was nice, but the lifestyle had become increasingly pagan. Being a part of a large family certainly had its perks, but it also had its pressures and drawbacks–especially in the light of the family being known for their polytheistic beliefs. The Bible seems to indicate that Abraham had something different about him than the rest of his family. Maybe he didn’t quite fit into the social scene because of the blatant immorality that was all around him. Maybe he struggled with his family background, thinking that there must be another way to live and wanting to get back to God’s perfect design for the godly home. We are not quite sure how it all really looked in his life there in Ur. But, one thing that we do see is that God saw something special in him. Something that He could work with. Something worth saving. Something that HE knew could go the distance.

I love the beginning of the story of Abraham. I SO relate!  In fact, it seemed that every time our church would begin a series on the life of Abraham, we would be moving or about to move at the time–hummm… (I think we are ok on this one this time–although God sure is asking me to get MOVING spiritually!)

My first time encountering Abraham was just after Harold and I married. We really needed to know what God wanted for us to do about college. Harold had several great options, but the very best option appeared to be in North Alabama. We were from South Mississippi. All of our family and friends were from there. We knew EVERYBODY…and of course, being from a small town, everybody knew us!   For us to move away and “GO” to this unknown place, we would have to leave all that was precious and all that was dear to us. We were going to have to risk breaking our parent’s hearts to move away to the place that God was leading us. It was so hard to step out there, leaving all that was familiar for a place that God would show us. Can you see how much we had in common with Abraham?

Oh, that is not all. God was up to more than we could have ever imagined! Not only was He calling us away “physically” for the college years, but we knew deep-down that He was also calling us to a “spiritual place” that we had never known. It was a place that our parents had never gone. It was a place where our family could not go with us or for us. We were to step up and go the distance to a place that was completely out of our comfort zone. A place where God would show us…

Well, we did it. We were a bit better off than Abraham. We could have all of our same comforts–thank God for air conditioners and cars to move!! He did not ONCE require that we eat worms (Yep! I was one of those children that read WAY TOO MANY missionary biographies–I seriously feared that following God would result in having to live in Africa as a missionary, eating worms and crickets (MISSIONARIES SHOULD NOT COME HOME AND GIVE SAMPLES OF FRIED YUCKIES!!!)–made me shy away from surrender! hehe!). Nope! Not one worm.  But, there was a cost that was rather hard. The holidays were desperately lonely, especially in the light of our famly traditions. The special memories with the children were no longer shared with the family. We were completely unknown (those in the south will TOTALLY get this!) after years of just saying our name and EVERYONE knew who we were! It may have seemed as though we moved only 300 miles away, but there was nothing familiar around us. It cost us to go the distance!

Not only did it COST…but it also paid off!  This is yet another parallel with Abraham! As we stepped out there to go wherever He wanted to send us, God blessed us SO richly! Not only did Harold get a great education, but he also got a great start in his career field. Our family was established strongly, apart from some of the distractions that can come from building on those old foundations from previous generations. Our unknown became our life that would not trade for anything in the world! Those tough times were completely outweighed by the blessings that came to us. That simple step was the first beginning toward God’s “promise” for our family–for US! It was the first step toward the life that God had in store for us.  It was worth going the distance!

So, what about you? Has God been calling lately? Is it time to “leave the place” where you have been for a while? It is time for you to “leave” something? It is time to go to the “place” that God wants to show you?

OH! DO IT! I can make a solid 100% guarantee on behalf of our Heavenly Father! Sound strong? Sound presumptious? Oh, it is guaranteed! If you will step out there and do exactly what He asks of you, He will never leave you or forsake you. He will show you the way each step along the way. He will take to you a place of promise! You can then have ALL that Christ died to give you! Ready?

Go the distance!

It takes F.A.I.T.H.

Forgiveness… Becoming a Christian is about receiving God’s free gift of forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Available…Salvation is available to ALL. The Bible says that “God is not willing that any should perish but everyone come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. The Bible says that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that the penalty of our sins is separation from God (Romans 6:23). God is holy and He cannot allow sin in heaven.

Turn from sin. The Bible word for turn is repent:  “But unless you repent you will also likewise perish” (Luke 13: 3).  It also says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).  To repent means that I  make a choice to turn from my sins and turn to Jesus Christ. You do not have the power to remove your sins, but Christ does!

Heaven! Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am , you may be also” (John 14:3).  Jesus also promised, “I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

FAITH can also mean Forsaking All I Trust Him. Would you like to receive God’s free gift of forgiveness by trusting in Christ right NOW? Simply bow your head and tell God now…He is listening.

Brought to you from First Baptist Church of Florence, AL.

No matter how young or old you are, you have more than likely known a friend or two to betray you. But how did you handle it? Did you forgive them the second that it happened? Did you go on like nothing ever happened? Or did it take a little more effort?

If you have been really painfully hurt like I’m talking about, you know that it’s not easy to just say, “Oh you’re forgiven” and its over. It takes days, weeks, if not months or even years for some hurts to heal!

But, how does God tell us to handle these things that cut so deeply into our hearts? How does the Bible tell us to deal with this? What did the wisest people ever to live do about their hurts and pains?

Look at James 1:2-4 ((No, I’m not ‘gunna’ quote it till a later entry (maybe). You’ve gotta go look it up!!! )), Genesis 50:19-21 and Luke 15:11-32. Take a minute to read these passages.

These people all learned forgiveness and they learned it the hard way! They all had hurts so painfully deep that only God could help them out of their self pity and pains!

If you look at some of the greatest people in the Bible, you’ll see that they all had A LOT to overcome and a lot to look past. But, the Bible also says to forgive 70 times 7 times PER TIME that a person offends you, ((That’s 490 times each time you are hurt!)) So God doesn’t expect you to be okay within the second that a person hurts you. He does expect for you to try to forgive them, to let it go! He wants for you to love them no matter what, and try to witness to them of God’s unconditional love.

It’s hard, TRUST ME! It is sooo hard!

In the past year, I’ve lost two best guy friends and a close gal pal to selfishness. They all did horrible things towards me and at times it seems that it is so impossible to get over it. Seeing them, hearing about them, or being around them just cuts deeper. But then, I look at how much I’ve learned from those situations and I thank God for them because without learning from those mistakes/experiences I would not be the person that I am today!

Am I perfect at forgiving? NO. It still hurts and its been a year for one of those friends, seven months for another and six months for another.

Does it mean that I’m a bad person? No. It just hurts that bad!

Taking those situations and letting God use them for His glory and His good is what life is about.

Try to forgive the best that you can. That’s what God truly wants! Try to see that what those people may have intended for evil, God is able to use for His good and perfect will!

Choose Jesus’ way over your own!

Choose to forgive and to love!

It’s not easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. God is always right there for you when it seems tough. “God will never let you go through more than you can handle,” a friend said to me when I felt as though there was no way to forgive the wrongs that had been done! Just remember that. “God will never let you go through more than you can handle.”

Forgive!

Love
Elisabeth