I read this paragraph in one of CARM’s online schools. ( http://carm.org ) How far (or behind) we’ve come in our public schools from the time when the Bible was the center of it’s curriculum. Children are no longer allowed to carry a bible to school or pray during school time and any reference to God has been stripped from our textbooks while homosexuality and eastern religion is promoted. Our children in this generation are being taught, through example, that knowledge and wisdom are found somewhere other than the bible.

“Five years after establishing the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Puritans started in Boston, the first elementary school supported by tax money.  In 1647, they passed an ordinance which marked the beginning of the US Public School system.  Among other things, the ordinance required at least one qualified teacher for every fifty householders, and a grammar school in every town of more than one-hundred families.  It also put the Bible in the center of its curriculum, asserting that it is “one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures.”

Deut 6:6-7 - ”And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Ps 19:7 –  The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making WISE the simple.

Ps 78:1,4 - Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

My dear friend, Kim, has written 5 (more to come, Lord willing) brief articles on whether or not we should celebrate Christmas.  I believe the principles being taught could be used in discerning other topics that may bring division in the body of Christ. I’m really enjoying this set of articles and knew you would gain much from them, too.

Here is the link to their home page. Scroll down until you find the heading that says, “For entires series ‘To Celebrate Christmas, or Not’ please click here.

http://givengrace.com

Hope you are having a blessed December! Next week I’ll start my candy making! I hope to make a lot of mounds balls. They are my family and friends favorite candy recipe. Here is the recipe plus a few other favorites.

Mounds Balls

2 boxes of powdered sugar
1 pound coconut ( I just use the 14 oz. bag I find at the dollar store)
3/4 pound melted butter or margarine
3/4 pound chopped nuts (3 cups)
2 tsp. vanilla
1 can condensed milk

Mix together and chill 3 hours or overnight. Form in small balls. In double boiler melt 12 oz. chocolate chips and 1/4 stick of paraffin wax. Dip chilled balls in melted chocolate and place on wax paper to cool.

Our family’s Christmas favorite.

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Peanut Butter Balls

1 jar Laura Scudder’s Old fashioned peanut butter
2 sticks margarine or butter, melt & cool
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 boxes powdered sugar. You want it firm but not stiff

Roll small balls the size you want. Don’t make them too big. Chill the dough 3 hours or overnight.

I use a double boiler to melt 1 package of semi-sweet chocolate chips (The normal size.. I think it’s 16 oz?) along with a 1/4 stick of paraffin wax. Melt the wax first and then add the chips. Dip chilled peanut butter balls into chocolate mixture. You can use a toothpick to hold them or a fork. Place on wax paper to cool. I use a fork to drop them into the chocolate and then tap the side of the pan to get the excess chocolate off. Keep refrigerated.

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Baby Ruth Bars

1 cup white Karo Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup peanut butter (crunchy)
4 cup Rice Krispies
6 oz. chocolate chips
6 oz. butterscotch chips

Bring syrup and sugar to full boil. Remove immediately from heat. Mix with peanut butter and Rice Krispies. Press into 9 1/2 x 13 pan.

Melt chips in double boiler, spread as icing.

I LOVE to do topical word studies in the bible. I especially like to do word studies on problems I’m facing or sin that needs to be overcome.  My favorite way to do this is to …

…collect all the scriptures that I can find on the topic and related words

… look up contrasting scriptures (for instance, if I am studying the sovereignty of God I would look up scriptures on man’s responsibility and accountability)

… study the context of each passage along with the meaning of key words

… watch for categories to place each scripture.

… sometimes I like to make an outline of the topic. I then file the study away in a file box or a notebook. I also keep a copy in my computer under ‘Word Studies’ or under ‘Counseling’.

My main goal is to have a quick reference to help myself or others in the future. Kay Arthur’s book, “How to Study the Bible”,  has a helpful chapter on doing topical word studies.

Normally, I study about something that is going on in my life at that time. It may be a difficulty, sin I am struggling with, my Christian duty towards my family or others.. you get the idea. Right now I am studying on trials because I’m facing quite a few of them. I want to bring glory to God in the way I respond to these trials and the one way I know to do that is to have God’s Word on the subject in front of me daily for guidance and strength. I’ll find a few main scriptures that really ‘speak’ clearly to me. Then, I’ll write those out on an index card and place them on my kitchen windowsill so that I can memorize them and think about them throughout the day. These scriptures begin to change the way I am thinking about the trial which then will change how I respond to the trial.  

This morning I was collecting scriptures on ‘a sinners response to trials’. I came across the story of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 12. Now, this is where I get excited in my study time.   This is what drives me back to spending QUANTITY (not just quality) time in God’s Word. It’s when I get these wonderful treasures from God’s Word that help me to focus my eyes on Jesus instead of the trial! 

2 Sam 12:20 – So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the LORD and worshiped.

Do you remember the story of David and Bathsheba? I won’t go over the whole story. But, I want to share a few treasures I saw in a new way this morning.

The scriptures say that David had been fasting for 7 days and inquired of God for his son to live. But, on the 7th day his son died.  Have you ever noticed David’s response in the middle of that heavy trial? It says he went to the house of the Lord and WORSHIPED God!

I wondered as I read this passage how I would respond if my child had just died and I knew that it was God’s judgment because of my sin. Would I be angry with God? Would I want to curse him and die, as Job’s wife told him to do when their children were killed?

Yet, David arose from the ground and went to the house of the Lord and worshiped.  That captivated my attention!

As I read through this account I was watching for some ‘keys’ that may give a glimpse of why David responded the way he did. I did notice that when David was faced with his sin he repented of it. He didn’t justify it or make excuses. He didn’t blame his sin on a ‘disease’ or blame God for it. He humbled himself and took responsibility for his own actions and then repented. It says in verse 13 that David  said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

I love that in verse 24 it says that David ‘comforted’ Bathsheba. I’ve noticed that  there is a strong temptation during a trial to focus on myself and not others.   But, here, David’s focus was on God first (he WORSHIPED Him!) and then he turned and comforted his wife.

I love that is says later in that verse

                                                                             ….Now the Lord loved him….!