Covetousness

Materialism in America is out of control. Covetousness is the root of the problem.

Americans sit on the couch. Mindless zombies passively sucking in bad TV and suggestive advertising. The kind that says you gotta have this and that and you gotta have it now. Dont worry that you cant afford it.....just put it on your credit card at 26% with 35.00 late fees.(*cough* please dont ask me how I know about this) Marketing and advertising in conjunction with the media control the minds of America.

Wonder what the animals who killed the poor Walmart employee were shopping for? What was it they trampled a helpless man to buy? Hannah Montana sleep pants?A Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Mixer. Or more likely it was Electronics. More gadgets and gizmos to clutter up our homes and brains. Could of been that nice shiny new Flat Panel TV Console with Swivel Mount - for $94.00 or a new iPod? Who knows...

Generational Momentum

Can we really impart mercy and grace into the generations to come? I mean can I pray and serve and then reap rewards that bless my grandchildren....my great great grandchildren?

I think so and that is so very exciting to me!! You know.....honestly....I don't know that I personally will ever in my lifetime be responsible for 10s,100s, or even thousands of souls bowing before Him on this earth but I have great hope for my descendants!

I know that God has no *grandsons* we all have to seek and serve Him on a personal basis. However God does bless whole families and entire households. He does bless unto a thousand generations. All it takes is one person to change the very course of a family tree. Even a tree that seems somewhat rotten and hopeless.

Remember Rahab? When God got ready to take Jericho.....every house,every brick,every wall came tumbling down....all but one. One house stood firm. Not only was Rahabs whole house and family spared but she became the great great grandmother of King David!! Now that is exciting! Rahab was a Harlot. Not even a direct descendant of Abraham....a Gentile....and yet she changed the very course of human history. In Hebrews 11:31 Rahab is listed as a hero of the faith along with Moses, Abraham, and Noah.

God is still searching through the alleys and the dark sides of our cities to find the harlots, the destitute, and the hopeless to show them mercy.He wants to use us to usher in His kingdom through generational momentum. Who will your great great great great great grandchild be? Rahab the Harlots was Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:5



Deut 7:9Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

Legalism

Perhaps God purposely left out the particulars of how to live for Him because He desires relationship. Wouldn't it of been easier if He just left us a tidy *to do* list?

He doesn't spell out hard fast and clear *rules* because He wants our hearts not a strict adherence to a *law*. He created man for His own pleasure. For relationship. From the very beginning He desired fellowship.

This is the problem with religion. Religion often promotes everything but a relationship with Him. Religion tells you how but often fails to tell you why. And if we walk in the *how* and forget the *why* we become Pharisees.

He created angels who worship Him all the time. They are always bowing down and giving Him glory. He created us just a little lower than the angels because He wants reciprocal love. Not obligatory love.

God is no longer a legalist. He is gracious and purposely didn't put in black/white formulaic terms just exactly what to *do*. He wants us to abide in Him.

If we mandate 5,6,7 into our walks, we take all the love and joy out of it. Who wants a spouse that loves by checklist. Walk in house...check. Kiss spouse...check. Smile....check. Thats not love. Thats legalism. Certainly all those things are right and necessary for a good healthy relationship but if we are motivated by the checklist and not our love then we are just coffins that look good or as Jesus put it....whited sepluchures.

John 15:15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends".

Homeschooling in the Flesh

Vision Forum,No Greater Joy,Denny Kenaston,Ted Tripp,Bill Gothard,....all these resources can change our lives,children and future for the good.....but if applied *in the flesh* can be very dangerous.

Most of us start out homeschooling with good Godly intentions but the enemy is not pleased so he knows if we wont follow The World then maybe he can get us to follow_______so rigidly that we turn into legalist. If he cant make you blatantly carnal he will make us go overboard into legalism......."Having begun in the Spirit are you now made perfect in the flesh?"

We understand a radical withdraw from The World is necessary for success...but If we dont put Jesus Christ at the *root* of our child training then we will bare rotten *fruit*.We all struggle with finding balance. I think a good gauge of wether or not we are veering into legalsim is a motive check. All the law is fulfilled in one word...love your neighblor....are we truly trying to serve Him and others or are we looking for little human trophys to parade around?

Galatians 5 says that "the works of the flesh are manifest.".....this means that your own efforts will show up. And Paul tells us that these works are the results of seeking righteousness in the flesh...not unrighteousness.....Remember Eve was tempted with *being Godly* and God wanted Eve to be Godly but she sought godliness in the flesh.....with her senses and not her Spirit.Seeking righteousness outside of Christ will always produce filthy rags....always...