by Gail Rodgers
**Do your angry outbursts hinder you from leaving a heritage that others will be proud of? http://thelife.com/study/lovebusters.html?section=angry_outbursts&ft=BSG-OS
Dust drifted up from the old suitcase as we opened it. Dusty papers, old pictures, brittle birth certificates and worn out pages of family history notes rustled in the morning air.
My Dad came for a visit bringing the old suitcase that had held the family archives for years. We poured over them, sorting them out and making a map of our history.
“Who cares, Mom? Why bother?” asked one of my kids. But it was good. It gave me a sense of my roots and a knowledge of where I came from.
Regardless of our individual family histories, as Christians you and I belong to the same family of believers. God spells out the family archives for all of us as His children so we have a sense of our roots and a knowledge of belonging.
Hebrews chapter 11 lists our spiritual ancestors who inspire us with their faith.
* Abraham who heard God say “go” and he went, not knowing his destination;
* Noah who prepared for a flood while the sun shone and the people laughed;
* Joseph who trusted his God even when his family deserted him and he found himself in a strange land;
* Moses who believed God to part the Red Sea so the people had a way to safety where there was no way;
* Joshua who obeyed the “off the wall” instructions to march around the city of Jericho with lanterns and captured it by faith without a battle.
It is so important to recall and be encouraged by those who have gone before us. It helps us to keep our feet from getting tangled in things that distract (Chapter 12). It helps us keep our eyes focused on Jesus as we run the course He has marked out for each of us as individuals.
“Consider the outcome of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:7,8).
Take a moment to thank God for your spiritual family archives. Be encouraged in your circumstance today that you follow this same Jesus who never changes. He will be as faithful to you today as He was to our forefathers.
Keep your focus…walk by faith. You have a powerful heritage!
~ Father God, Thank you today for the confidence that the God of yesterday is still the God of today. Remind me of this as I go through my day and as I trust you in the hard spots. Thank You that I belong to this family of believers; that this history is my history. Help me today to walk by faith and to keep my eyes focused on Your strength. I love You Lord. Please keep my feet from being entangled in the distractions of my day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Questions: Have you looked at your heritage recently? How are you helping to start a wonderful Christian heritage for your children & grandchildren?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/gail-rodgers/
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September 9th, 2008 at 6:05 am
This devotion was really a good one for me this morning, I just finished my bible study this morning, we are doing in church on wed. night called Believing God it has already taught me so much about faith and reading todays devotion it just confirms all I have studied about–in Mark 9:14-25 the father of the young boy says in verse 24 “I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief!” now that statement jumped out at me how many time do I say I believe, I have faith…and in this lesson I learned that in some areas I need to ask God to increase my belief…Lord I pray that each woman today has an increase of faith in their life.
on a side note friday night a speaker made a statment that has stuck with me and I thought I would share it, he was talking about his love for his children and how any parent you talked to would say “I would die for my child, in an instant, I would step between them and any danger and not think twice about it” and then the next statement he made was this..”How many parents will start makeing the choice to LIVE for their children? Live a life loving God, making choices that chooses not to get angry, to speak words of love, or simply go to church when you may not feel like it?” WOW, I had never thought about it like that and it is so true…How many of us choose to live for our children? Hope this blessed you as it did me, blessings to each of you!
September 9th, 2008 at 7:24 am
This is awesome as I’ve just been reading all the Old Testament great stories this past week!
Yes, it is GOOD to know of these ‘father’s of the Faith’ as it helps us to build our hope, trust and faith in our ‘Unchanging Father in Heaven.”
Maia, the statement re: ‘living for your children’ is truly powerful! Thank you for sharing this. As grandparents we can still do that for the next generation.
As for what am I doing in a concrete way re: our family history I’m having photos that are 80 to 130 years old framed for our 2 adult kids; giving my grandmother’s rocking chair to our daughter and our son loves his ‘Grampa’s Chair’ so it’s going to himnow. Our son is almost 43 so I want him to enjoy that chair for many years : -)
Little things yes, but the discussion around them is wonderful.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:28 am
It feels beautiful to know that we serve a God that is the same today, tomorow and always. There is nothing that we go through that He has not seen before. I’m struggling to start up my business and sometimes I feel I’m running on one spot, but slowly and surely the Lord orders my steps and I am gradually making progress. I tell myself that if He can lead people who had no military training into a victorious battle or guide a teenage boy to defeat a giant then He will definately help me.
It feels good to know who my father ( God ) is, good to know my lineage.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Thank you for this wonderful encouragement today. We are indeed surrounded with such a ‘great cloud of witnesses’ and are like athletes in a great stadium being cheered along by all of the faithful who have gone on before. Let us be encouraged to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus …
September 12th, 2008 at 11:04 am
today is fri. the 12th. i have been unable to get to the ‘relplys’ since tues. thank you Lord for the patience you have shown me and thank you for the blessing of being able to finally connect back.
gail, i must admit that your devotion stung a little bit for me but it also gave me reason to ”check” in with myself and talk with the Lord in asking for direction. I can ask God to make my life easier, but i am aware that He might say no. if past circumstances are re-defining me as a bitter person to myself, i must remain open to hope,work with God and rebuild my life, the heritage all will be proud of.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:25 am
thank you for awonderfuldevotional
sharon