Connection the Magazine - Spring 2011

8/7/2019 Connection the Magazine - Spring 2011

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CHARLES SWINDOLL | LENYA HEITZIG | C.H. SPURGEON | SKIP HEITZIG

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p. 26

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ISSUE 11 | APRIL-JUNE 2011

CHILDREN:GOD'S REWARD

PRACTICALLY PERFECT PARENTING

THE ROD



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Dear Friend,

Welcome to our spring edition of Connection—the magazine ! As the weather begins to warm,children look forward to summer vacation and parents begin planning for sunny days. Andwith the kids roaming the house and neighborhood more often, we, as Christians, long to begood parents. We want to point them to the Son. Using Scripture as our solid foundation, thisissue is devoted to Christian parenting.

As I wrote in my article, God uses several terms to describe children: heritage, inheritance,gift, assignment, reward—even arrows. Through His Word, God makes it clear He desires us tosee children through His eyes and that He holds us responsible for treating them with specialcare.

As we began in our last issue, our Daily Devo section is directly based on my devotional, The Daily God Book. This quarter, we continue in 1 Kings and move all the way through the book ofJonah.

Charles Swindoll, the author of over thirty books, has contributed an article from his bookParenting: From Surviving to Thriving. I am sure you will gain great insight from the excerpt.

My beautiful wife, Lenya, (now a proud grandmother), encourages and reminds us there areno perfect parents—other than our heavenly Father. Her article is both practical and inspiring.

Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks with me in “Offthe Cuff” about the responsibilities of Christian parents in America today.

Our “From the Blog” section answers a very important question, especially in today’s society.Are children with only one Christian parent at a disadvantage in maintaining their Christianwalk later in life? And our “Hot Spots” focuses on the ever controversial “spanking dilemma.”What does Scripture command regarding corporal punishment?

As always, you’ll find great resources, articles, and relevant information to help you grow inyour personal walk with Jesus Christ. May God bless you!

In His Strong Love,

Skip Heitzig

SKIP’S NOTE



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Children:God's Reward

Skip Heitzig

From Survivingto Thriving

Charles Swindoll

PracticallyPerfect Parenting

Lenya Heitzig

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26

12

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32

35

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44

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THIS ISSUE

Dead Pastors’ Society

The Vault

Hot Spots

Fast Facts

Off the Cuff

From the Blog

The Gallery

Daily Devo

Stay Connected

Word Search

Next Issue



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a publication of

PublisherSkip Heitzig

skipheitzig.com

Director Brian Nixon

Editor-In-ChiefRebekah Hanson

ManagingEditors

Mary BishopJoan Polito

Nancy ReimannJerry Rood

Penny RoseLaura Sowers

ContributorsLenya HeitzigC.H. Spurgeon

Penny RoseCharles SwindollDr. Albert Mohler

Design DirectorBrandi Sea Hef t

Ad DesignKhanh Dang

Our Mission:Connectingyou to God’s

never-changingtruth in

ever-changingtimes.

Connection Communications4001 Osuna Rd. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109505.344.9146

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W ebster’s Dictionary defines a child this way:“an unborn or recentlyborn person; a young

person especiallybetween infancy andyouth; a son or daughterof human parents.” To me,these definitions fallfar short of describingthe miracle a child is

and the value he or sherepresents.

In fact, I believe fewpeople think of childrensolely in terms of age or



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biology. Positively or negatively, directlyor indirectly, people view children inmany different ways: blessings, burdens, responsibilities, miracles, accidents, challenges, dependents, possessions, adventures, teachers. God, too,uses several terms to describe children:heritage, inheritance, gift, assignment,reward, arrows. Through His Word, Godmakes it clear He desires us to see childrenthrough His eyes and that He holds usresponsible for treating them with special care.

A HeritagePsalm 127 tells us, “Behold, children

are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit ofthe womb is a reward. Like arrows in the

hand of a warrior, so are the children ofone’s youth. Happy is the man who hashis quiver full of them” (Psalm 127:35.

The termheritageused inthis versemeans“possession,property,

portion,inheritance.”Severaltranslations usethe term“gift.” netranslation usesthe term

“assignment.” Ilike that.Justwhen youthoughtschoolwas over,God says,“Here’san as

signmentfor you.Here’sa childto bemoldedlike clay.This childis your

heritage, your assignment from Me.”

From this verse, we learn that childreninitially belong to God. They are His tocreate and His to give. He gives them tous, along with the responsibility to carefor them.

A RewardPsalm 127:3 also says children are areward. Make a note of that. They’re notan accident, curse, or inconvenience.They’re a reward. What a difference Ibelieve we would see in our children ifall parents treated them as a reward.

Let me note for those who knowcouples who are unable to, or who have

chosen not to have children, childrenare not God’s only reward. God rewardsHis sons and daughters in many different, creative ways designed specificallyfor the individual plans He has for eachof us.

ArrowsPsalm 127:4 says, “Like arrows in the

hand of a warrior, so are the children ofone’s youth.” God calls children “arrows.” What do you do with an arrow?You shoot it at a target. This verse tellsus children are to be launched like anarrow with a target in mind. The target:God and His specific will for their lives.

Sadly, many parents fail to see thetarget. We fail to study our children tosee what gifts and calling God has putwithin them. We fail to encourage them

to develop their Godgiven talents. Godcalls us to prepare, draw, and launch our“arrows” as He directs us in His Word.

Valued by GodWe also know children are important

and valuable to Jesus, who gave severalspecific commands regarding children,including: “Let the little children cometo Me, and do not forbid them; for of

such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14. He also said, “It is not thewill of your Father who is in heaven thatone of these little ones should perish”(Matthew 18:14.

Four hundred years before JesusChrist, the philosopher Socrates commented on the Greeks’ propensity to

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child isuniquly

cratdand in-timatly

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throw away children, then regarded asdispensable and secondary to professions and wealth. Socrates said, “CouldI climb the highest place in Athens, Iwould lift up my voice and proclaim,‘Fellow citizens, why do you turn andscrape every stone to gather wealth andtake so little care of your children towhom you must one day relinquish all?”What a powerful indictment of ancientGreece and modern America.

Uniquely Created by GodEvery child is uniquely created and

intimately known by God. “Fearfullyand wonderfully made,” each child hasa unique temperament, a unique personality, a unique set of abilities, anda unique plan designed by God. Psalm139 tells us:

For You formed my inward parts;You covered me in my mother’s womb.I will praise You, for I am fearfully andwonderfully made; marvelous are Your

works, and that my soul knows very well.My frame was not hidden from

You, when I was made in secret, andskillfully wrought in the lowest parts

of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in

Your book they all were written, the daysfashioned for me, when as yet therewere none of them (Psalm 139:1316.

HumanAs different as they are from each

other, all children have one thing incommon: a selfassertive nature thatmust be channeled.

Jeremiah tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatelywicked” (Jeremiah 17:9. Paul writes inomans, “As the Scriptures say, ‘No oneis goodnot even one” (omans 3:10NLT; and later, “Through one man sinentered the world, and death throughsin, and thus death spread to all men,because all sinned" (omans 5:12. avidwrites, “For I was born a sinneryes,from the moment my mother conceivedme” (Psalm 51:5 NLT. The moment eachof us was conceived by our parents, weinherited a sinful nature.

As I watched my son grow, I thought,“God, it’s wonderful to see the development processes You’ve created within

my son. Heis indeed‘fearfullyand wonderfully made.’”Yet, deepwithin myson’s heart,there’s asinful naturethat is corrupt to thecore.

As youread this,you mightbe thinking, “Not

my kid.”Let me askthis: id youever haveto teachyour childto disobey?id youever have tosay: “Now,son, you’re

a little toogood. Infact, you’realmostperfect.Give theother kidsa break.Here, letme tell youhow to sin

a little bit.I’m good atit”? n thecontrary, kids need to be taught to obey,love, and share unselfishly because theother things come so naturally.

Obedience: A Child’s RoleGod’s primary instructions to children,

we find, are regarding their relationshipwith their parents. The fifth of the TenCommandments is, “Honor your fatherand your mother, that your days maybe long upon the land which the LORDyour God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12.Scripture repeats this commandment noless than eight times. In his letter to theColossians, Paul wrote, “Children, obeyyour parents in all things, for this is well

Our

childrnse usas rolmodlsof how

thyought tob



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Skip Heitzig is theauthor of the bookHomeland Security and is the seniorpastor of Calvaryof Albuquerque.

skipheitzig.com

bruise the heart of a child.” Let themknow you love them and make sure theyknow why they are being punished. Youmight tell them, “I’ve warned you andnow I’m going to punish you. I still loveyou, but I have to punish you becauseyou disobeyed me.” After disciplining,

affirm your children by telling them youlove them and by mentioning some ofthe positive qualities you appreciateabout them.

Don’t focus on the short-termeffects of discipline. Think of itslongrange rewards. on’t structureor evaluate your discipline by the

immature way they respond to youtoday. What matters more is the waythey respond twenty years from now.By disciplining correctly now, you giveboth your children and yourself the giftof enabling them to look back and say,“Thank you. I love you. It worked.”

Admit to your kids when you’re

wrong.When you’ve messed up, tell

them “I’m sorry.” Children don’t expectperfection, but they do expect, remember, and respect honesty. Trusting Godwith our children does not mean takinga backseat in their development. TheNew Testament tells us our trust andfaith are active, not passive. In fact,James tells us “faith without works isdead” (James 2:26. So is parentingwithout involvement. With all of ourmight, we need to fight passivity. Weneed to be active and involved in ourchildren’s lives.

*Excerpt from The House that God Builds:A Manual for Christian Parenting by Skip Heitzig

Children, God's eward cont.

pleasing to the Lord” (Colossians 3:20.To the Ephesians, he instructed, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, forthis is right” (Ephesians 6:1.

The word children in the latter twoverses is translated from the Greekword teknon, which refers to all offspring of any age. Since every personis the child of two parents, and everyChristian is a child of God (John 1:12,Paul’s message in Colossians 3:20 is toall of us.

As parents, our responsibility to heedPaul’s instructions to children is great.ur children see us as role modelsof how they ought to be. If I treat myparents with disrespect, my children willobserve this and model their behaviortoward me from the way they see metreating my parents. In addition, because we teach our children that God isour heavenly Father, children also modeltheir behavior toward us as parents fromthe way they see us responding to God.When our children see us thanking God,looking to God’s Word for instruction,and living our lives the way God’s Wordtells us to, they see an example of howthey ought to respond to us as parents.

Skip’s TipsDon’t use idle threats or bribes.ather, specifically instruct yourchildren, warn them of the consequences of disobedience, and follow through.For example, tell them, “on’t do that. If

you do, I’m going to spank you.” If theydon’t obey, follow throughthe firsttime, not the second or third.

Don’t discipline through criticismand comparison. The phrase, “Whycan’t you be more like…?” can ruin achild. Love, appreciate, affirm, and discipline your children for who they are and

what they donot who they aren’t andwhat they don’t do.

Don’t discipline your childrenwhen you’re angry with them.Heed the words of Henry WadsworthLongfellow, who said, “Hard words

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by Lenya Heitzig



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R emember the wonderful movie Mary Poppins? Mary was the superconfidentEnglish nanny who floated into a family home in 1910 London. Little Janeand Michael were out of control because they had everything but the heartsof their parents, who drifted off course, distracted with various causes andwork demands. But Mary, being “practically perfect in every way,” broughtorder, fun, and adventure into the home.

I’ve discovered that following the desires found in our unredeemed hearts can takeus off course. In fact, God has warned, “The heart is deceitful above all things, anddesperately wicked; who can know it? I, the L, search the heart, I test the mind,even to give every man according to his ways” (Jeremiah 17:9-10.

We may not be able to navigate the deep waters of the human heart, but God can.He’s shown me how to steer my heart in the right direction. By exposing my desiresto three simple questionsWhat do I want? Why do I want it? What am I willing to doto get it?—I can avoid dangerous obstacles and enjoy smooth sailing.

Wht Do I Wnt?The first determination of whether a desire is right or wrong is found in the object of

your desire. It depends on what you want. For instance, there’s a big difference between looking for love and longing for lust. My mother warned me, “Be careful what

you wish for . . . you may just get it.” In fact, that is precisely what Samson’s mothertold her son when he wanted to marry a Philistine, a woman from a race with whichthe Jews were strictly forbidden to intermarry. His mom tried to persuade Samsonto obey God’s commands and choose a bride from among his own people, but to noavail. What Samson desired more than anything was elilah. And when he got her,she was his undoing (see Judges 16. Samson should have asked himself, “o I wantwhat God wants?”

Why Do I Wnt It?

The second test to discern if your desire is helpful or harmful depends on why youwant what you want. Is the desire for greedy gain or God’s glory? Motive is a key factor and that’s exactly where Eve stumbled. When the serpent asked her, “Has Godindeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1, Eve passedthe test with flying colors, telling the devil that since God said no, she wouldn’t eventouch the forbidden fruit. So why did Eve ultimately succumb to temptation? BecauseSatan presented her with an enticing motive: “For God knows that the day you eat ofit . . . you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5, emphasis added. With this incentive in her



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Practically Perfect Parenting cont.

heart, “the woman saw that the tree was. . . desirable to make one wise, [and] shetook of its fruit and ate” (Genesis 3:6, emphasis added. And when she did, it wasthe downfall of the human race. Eve shouldhave asked herself, “Why do I want what

God doesn’t want?”

Wht Am I Wllng to Do to Gt It?Finally, the litmus test of a desire’s merit

lies in how you go about getting it. Many amisguided dreamer has attempted to getthe right thing the wrong way. You mustask yourself, “What am I willing to do toget what I want?” In Acts 8, we read about

the radical conversion of Simon the sorcerer who had “astonished the people ofSamaria, claiming that he was someonegreat, to whom they all gave heed, fromthe least to the greatest, saying, ‘This manis the great power of God’” (Acts 8:9-10.Simon loved the limelight, but he wasoutshone by the signs and wonders Godperformed through Philip. Simon’s star wasfurther eclipsed when Peter and John bap

tized believers with the Holy Spirit. The exsorcerer became so envious of their powerand prestige that “he offered themmoney, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whomI lay hands may receive theHoly Spirit’” (Acts 8:18-19.Peter harshly rebukedhim, saying that God’sSpirit is not for sale and

His servants cannot bemanipulated with a bribe.Simon should have askedhimself, “What makes methink I can get the right thingthe wrong way?”

God-Gvn DeieIf there’s such a thing as wrong desires,

then how can we know what are the rightdesires? What did avid mean when hesaid “elight yourself in the Lord and Hewill give you the desires of your heart”(Psalm 37:4)? The answer is found in thesource of these desiresdo they originatewith our heavenly Father or our fallen na

ture? God does not grant us every wish orwhimHe is not some heavenly genie ina bottle. But He does promise to plant Hisholy desires within His children’s hearts.In other words, as we delight ourselves inGod, He places desires in our hearts that

please Him.In order for desires to be holy, they must

be according to His will, His Word, and Hisway. Consider the following Scriptures:

“If you abide in Me, andMy words abide in you, you will askwhat you desire, and it shall be donefor you” (John 15:7.

“We can be confident thathe will listen to us whenever we askhim for anything in line with his will”(1 John 5:14 NLT.

“You can ask for anythingin my name, and I will do it, becausethe work of the Son brings glory tothe Father” (John 14:13 NLT.

Ou Pefct Pant From the time that our son Nate couldtalk, he knew that he wanted weapons.

Even before he could speak, he knewhow to make the sounds of each

and every implement of death.His desire was to amass anarmory that rivaled any storybook hero’s. At Knott’s BerryFarm, he wanted a bullwhip

just like Indiana Jones. AtToys-Us, he craved arevolver like ick Tracy’s.

And in Hawaii, he begged usfor a machete like Crocodile

undee’s. When he picked upa huge knife in a tourist shack, we

both shouted, “No!” No parent in his or herright mind would let a threeyearold wielda blade of that magnitude. It was quite

simple: When Nate asked for somethingthat was not according to our will, we gotin the way.

Thank God that when Nate turned 16,his desires changed. Instead of weapons,he wanted wheels. Before he had put alicense into his wallet, he was already



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asking for the keys to a car. He had spentthe last five years saving every penny frombirthdays and Christmases to buy the carof his dreams. With $3,000 in his bank account, we entered the used car lot. And

there, gleaming in the sunlight,

was a ‘93 Volvo 850 forjust $3,400. It was

fireengine red andin primo condition.Since our sonwanted what wewanteda safe,reliable carour

answer was a resounding yes! When

his request was in linewith our will, we paved

the way.

It’s the same with God. He is not just agood Father; He is the perfect parent. Jesusinformed moms and dads:

"You parentsif your children ask for aloaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? r if they ask for a fish, do you give

them a snake? f course not! If you sinfulpeople know how to give good gifts to yourchildren, how much more will your heavenlyFather give good gifts to those who ask him"(Matthew 7:9-11 NLT.

The lesson is simple: If you want God tosay yes to your heart’s desires, then makesure that you are asking for something thatHe desires. If the Lord has been saying no

to some of your prayers, perhaps you areasking Him for the wrong thing.

esiring to be a godly mom or dad is definitely God’s will. No matter how hard wetry, I doubt that any one of us will ever be a“practically perfect” parent. But when ourdeepest desires are to please and honorour own heavenly Father, we can confidentlytrust that our parenting efforts, though imperfect, will glorify Him.



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Using discipline, “the rod and reproof,”to correct the bent toward evil and guidethe child toward a personal relationshipwith Jesus Christ is a necessary part of parenting. Dealing with rebellious,defiant behavior requires discipline onthe part of the parent because no one

likes being the “bad guy” to the child.But if it’s done correctly, the disciplineprocess actually creates more opportunityto bond with him or her and to focus on the

aspect of parenting we find more enjoyable.Then, just as the Lord knowseach of His children intimate-ly, we must seek to know ourchild well. That requires time, keenobservation, patience, interaction,and lots of prayer. But if we puteffort into this crucial responsibil-

ity as a parent, our children will reapbenefits long after they have becomeadults. I can name at least three.



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Charles Swindoll



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First, every adult longs to have memories of a parent’s love. I have found some measure of healing in myown life by giving my own children what Idesired so much from my parents. It’s an oddkind of melancholy relief that I find soothing.Whatever else I may have done poorly, I knowthat my children know that I love them.

Second, every adult wants to have a strong sense of personal control—control of life’s circumstances,control over self during temptation, controlover choices that affect the future. I took nocommand of my life when I graduated from

high school. I merely followed in the stepsthat seemed to come next. I had no particularpassion, no specific pursuit. Fortunately, theLord took control of my life through a seriesof circumstances that made little sense untilmany years later. How much better for a childto know who he or she is, the Lord’s plansfor the world, and how he or she will serveHim. That knowledge gives an adult the toolsnecessary to make wise, responsible, Godhonoring decisions.

Third, every adult desires to feel the security of self-respect. When a growing child understands how Godput him or her together, when adulthoodcomes, he or she enjoys welldefined personal boundaries. These boundaries providea person the strength to stand his or herground in the face of injustice, abuse, or at

tempted manipulation. Because others havelittle room to toy with his or her identity, he orshe is virtually immune to exploitation. This,by the way, includes Satan’s attacks as well.A strong sense of identity in Christ is the bestdefense against the devil’s chief weapon:deception.

Action StepsWorth Taking

Now let me turn these into actions wecan apply.

First, determine to know your child’s uniqueness.Knowledge of your child will not cometo you automatically. This will requirekeen observation and sensitive determination to seek the knowledge youneed. Turn each day with your childinto an opportunity to discover whohe or she is on the inside. I’m not sug

gesting you watch and record theiractions like they’re a bunch of lab rats.Learn to know them like you would anyother persona friend, a mate. Spendlots of time with them that has noagenda. Communicate. Ask questions.bserve what makes your child happy,bored, stimulated, agitated, angry.Look for natural gifts in athletics, music, and academics. Talk to teachers,youth leaders, and other parents. Bedeliberate about discovering each

child’s identity.

As you do this, you will cultivate adeepening love for your child. Youcannot love someone you don’t know,but knowing him or her allows greateropportunity to feel and show love. Thechild, in return, will gain selfawareness, the first step to selfdiscipline.

Second, discipline yourself

to set limits on your child’swill. This is hard work and it’sunpleasant…But curbing his willfuldefiance at age ten will help you gainenough control over his behavior tohelp him control himself by the timehe reaches older adolescence. Thisdoesn’t mean that children will never

A child gains self-awarenessfrom being known. A child gainsself-control from being disciplined

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disobey or push against your boundaries, but it will keep chaos from ruling the home and destroying any hopeof normal development.

A wisely disciplined child will growinto an adult who can handle himself

or herself in private. When he’s ina hotel and he can watch anythinghe wants, he learns to avoid Xratedchannels because he learned selfcontrol at home. oad rage isn’t aproblem for her because she learnedto control herself from you. He onlyknows that yelling and screaming during an argument will only bring heartache and regrets because he learnedto guard his actions and watch hiswords when his emotions are runninghigh. Your consistent, firm, yet lovingdiscipline taught him those skills.

A child gains selfawareness frombeing known. A child gains selfcontrol from being disciplined.

Third, affirm your child’svalue. This is more difficult than youmight imagine because affirming a

child’s value without resorting to flattery will require discernment. My goodfriend Jim obson is a strong proponent of building a child’s selfesteem,but many have twisted his counselinto something bizarre. For fear ofwounding a child’s selfimage, teachers, coaches, and parents won’t challenge him or her to excel. Poor performance as a result of little or no effortis typically met with gleeful cheers. Achild is given compliments and affir

mation that have no basis, which onlyseems to confuse him or her.

Flattery will amount to nothing ultimately. Instead, look for an authenticbasis for compliments. Base your affirmation on characteristics that yougenuinely see and truly admire. eward real effort with encouragement,recognizing that his or her qualitiesand achievements will have childsized proportions. To do this, you willhave to know your son or daughterwell. Furthermore, you will have toknow what motivates your child, howmuch encouragement he or she willneed, when to challenge him or her totry harder, and when it’s appropriateto try something else.

The result for the parent is a growingrespect for the child. The benefit forthe child is he or she gains selfrespect. And a child with a healthy respect for self will be prepared to enjoyhealthy relationships as an adult.

As you determine to know yourchild’s uniqueness, discipline yourselfto set limits on his or her will, and affirm his or her value, take notes fromthe perfect Father. He knows youintimately, which puts Him in the bestposition to develop your maturity. Hedoesn’t give you everything you wantbut never fails to meet your everyneed. And because He knows you, Heknows the difference. His desire foryou is that you grow into the kind ofbeliever who enjoys the personalityand the gifts He has given you, andHe longs to see you fully alive. As theLord develops your maturity, do thesame for your child.

There are few responsibilities morerewarding than this…So don’t wait toget started! Even if you’ve not donethese things before, I urge you to begin. emember, it’s never too late to

start doing what is right.

*Excerpt from Parenting: From Surviving to Thriving,

( Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006, p. 38-42

Charles Swindoll is an evangelical pastor, author, and educator. Heis the founder of Insight for Living, aradio program heard on more than2000 stations worldwide. Swindollis the author of over thirty booksand is the founder of StonebriarCommunity Church.



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AD

“Better a little chiding than a greatdeal of heartbreak.”

– William Shakespeare

“ne father is more than a hundredschoolmasters.”

– George Herbert

“The family should be a closelyknit group. The home should be aselfcontained shelter of security;a kind of school where life’s basiclessons are taught; and a kind ofchurch where God is honored; a

place where wholesome recreation

and simple pleasures are enjoyed.” – Billy Graham

“I remember my mother’s prayersandthey have always followed me. They

have clung to me all my life.”

– Abraham Lincoln

“Kindness, gentleness, longsuffering,forbearance, patience, sympathy,

a willingness to enter into childishtroubles, a readiness to take part in

childish joysthese are the cords by

which a child may be led most easilythese are the clues you must follow ifyou would find the way to his heart.”

– J.C. Ryle

THE VAULT



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That word home always sounds like poetry tome. It rings like a peal of bells at a wedding, onlymore soft and sweet, and it chimes deeper intothe ears of my heart. It does not matter whether itmeans thatched cottage or manor house, home ishome, be it ever so homely, and there’s no placeon earth like it. I like to see thesmoke out of my own chimney

better than the fire on anotherman’s hearth; there’s something so beautiful in the wayin which it curls up among thetrees. Cold potatoes on my owntable taste better than roastmeat at my neighbour’s, and the honeysuckleat my own door is the sweetest I ever smell.

Husbands should try to make home happy andholy. It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest, a badman who makes his home wretched. ur houseought to be a little church, with holiness to the

Lord over the door, but it ought never to be aprison where there is plenty of rule and order,but little love and no pleasure. Married life isnot all sugar, but grace in the heart will keepaway most of the sours. Godliness and love canmake a man, like a bird in a hedge, sing amongthorns and briars, and set others singing too. Itshould be the husband’s pleasure to please hiswife, and the wife’s care to care for her husband.He is kind to himself who is kind to his wife.

DEAD PASTORS’ SOCIETY

Wives should feel that home is their place andtheir kingdom, the happiness of which dependsmostly upon them. Show me a loving husband,a worthy wife, and good children, and no pair ofhorses that ever flew along the road could takeme in a year where I could see a more pleasing

sight. Home is the grandestof all institutions. Talk about

parliament, but give me a quietlittle parlour. Boast about voting and the reform bill if youlike, but I go in for weedingthe little garden and teaching the children their hymns.

Franchise may be a very fine thing, but I shoulda good deal sooner get the freehold of my cottage, if I could find the money to buy it. MagnaCharta I don’t know much about, but if it meansa quiet home for everybody, three cheers for it.

Adapted from The Complete John Ploughman by C.H. Spurgeon

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892 is known as “The Princeof Preachers.” Spurgeon preached toaround 10,000,000 people in his lifetimeoften up to 10 times each weekat different places. His sermons havebeen translated into many languages.

featuring C.H. Spurgeon



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Merced KGDM-105.5 FM

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Oxnard KOCC-101.5 FM

San Luis Obispo KLFF-AM 890

Southern KVE-107.9 FM

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Connecticut Ledyard CSE-100.1 FM

Montville 94.9 FM W Niantic

NLN-107.3 FM

FloridaFort Lauderdale REH-90.5 FM

Miami GES-90.9 FM

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89.7 FM W Columbus 107.7 FM

Cussetta 91.1 FM W Douglas

88.1 FM W Dublin 89.1 FM

East Albany 97.7 FM W Eastman

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KHJC-88.9 FM

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107.7 FM

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STATIO

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LISTIN

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Scottsbluff KNIF-107.9 FM

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Lovelock 89.5 FM

New MexicoAlbuquerque KNKT-107.1 FM W Clovis 90.7

Mentmore (Gallup) 885 W Silver City KKSC-

100.1 FM

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Montauk CSE-93.9 FM W Southhampton

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North CarolinaBlack Mountain MIT-106.9 FM W Charlotte

CRU-AM 960 W Raleigh/Durham W inston

Salem TRU-AM 830

OhioZanesville TLL-98.9

PennsylvaniaMarkleysburg LOG-89.1 FM

South CarolinaCharleston 90.3 FM; 104.9 FM; 105.1 FM

Rock Hill AM 980; 105.7 FM

South DakotaBrookings 88.7 FM

Tennessee

Benton TSE-91.1 FM W Cleveland 94.9 FM

Knoxville IAM-101.1 FM W Lawrenceburg

ZXX-88.5 FM

TexasBig Spring 89.7 FM W San Angelo KAGA-

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VirginiaLynchburg 95.3 FM W Madison Heights 88.7

Pamplin 90.5 W Richmond LES-AM 590

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International Radio StationsBelizeBelize City 100.5 FM W San Pedro Town

101.3 FM W Spanish Outlook Belize 97.3

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connectionradio.org



25

Dear Pastor Skip,I just wanted to let you know I came to Christ a coupleyears ago in the midst of a major trial. The trial has notended. However, every morning from 7 until 7:30 am on myway to work, I am able to listen to your broadcast here inNorth Carolina. It has been a wonderful way to start everyday…thanks for all you do and God bless.

— Paul Costa, North Carolina

Through

Wednesday, April 26“God’s Top Ten”

Though cultures, languages, andlifestyles have changed dramati-

cally since Moses received thesewords on Mount Sinai, they are

surprisingly very applicable to ourdaily lives in the 21st century.

on the Connection...

Check connectionradio.org for a station near you that airs the Connection.

Beginning

Tuesday, April 27“The Biography of God”

The Biography of God gives anin-depth look at His characterand nature, and delves into thetheological and personal profile ofour heavenly Father.

COMING UP

Beginning

Wednesday, June 8“Rediscovering Our Foundations”

In this series, Skip Heitzig gets back tothe roots of our faith, looking at what the

Bible has to say about God, Christ, theTrinity, mankind, the church, heaven, andhell. Learn to stand on a firm foundation.



HOT SPOTS

26



by skip heitzig

Loving discipline is a part of parentalinvolvement. Proverbs 4:11 says, “I have

taught you in the way of wisdom; I have

led you in right paths.” But how do we get

children on the right path? By discipline.

Proverbs 13:24 tells us that “He who spares his rodhates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him

promptly.” Now this doesn’t mean blind brutality. It’snot an invitation for parents to beat their children.The idea is to lovingly correct their faults in orderto set them on the right path.

And there's a stronger warning in Proverbs 19:18:"Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not

27



28

know how to raise their hand, or their voice, but that’s about it.

But there’s also preventativediscipline. This should start early on,through practices like praying withyour kids, playing with them, andgetting on their level so they canexplain their world and their life toyou. Then they’ll see you as non-threatening.

ne mistake parents make isthreatening

their kids. Theydon’t followthrough withdiscipline.Instead, theyraise their voiceand threatenagain andagain. hen

WKH\ÀQDOO\DFWit’s in absolutefrustration andanger. The mes-sage they’resending is: “Youcan get away

with a lot until I reach one certaindecibel level. After that, you’d bet-ter look out!” My father and mother believed in promises, not threats.They would say something andif I disobeyed, they would followthrough with the discipline.

According to a recent report, theprimary cause for children living in

foster homes is not divorce, moneyproblems, or the death of their parents. The number one reason isthe disinterest of parents. That’s thelack of loving, preventative disci-pline. Let’s discipline—but let’s do itin love.

The od cont.

hotspotsonline.net

set your heart on his destruction.”The NIV renders that last part as“and do not be a willing party tohis death.” Get that: ne whorefuses to lovingly (you can under-

line that in red) discipline his childis one who desires the worst for hischild. That parent isn’t the child’sfriend—they’re his enemy!

You may be thinking, Oh, but Ilove him too much to disciplinehim! ell then, the effect—inthe end—will

be as if youhated him! Itis not love towithhold cor-rection, or tooverlook bla-tant disobedi-ence. Godloves us, yet

is ord says,“or whom theLord loves echastens” (e-brews 12:6).

Unfortunately,many people now believe that dis-cipline is outdated; that you canjust “negotiate” with your child.But some sociologists from arvardUniversity listed the primary factorsnecessary to prevent delinquencyin children. Number one? irm, fair,and consistent discipline.

There’s a difference between

corrective and preventative disci-pline. I think you need both. Cor-rective discipline is when you haveto stop a behavior: You correct itimmediately. Unfortunately, cor-rective discipline is the only kindthat many parents know. They

and donot be awilling

party tohis death



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FAST FACTST HE MOST COMMON DEFINITIONS

OF SUCCESSFUL PARENTING:Children having good values 25%

Children being happy adults 25%Children finding success in life 22%

Children being a good person 19%

Children graduating from college 17%

Children living independently 15%

Children having faith in God 9%

Among born again Christians, 29% say faith is not among the most importantinfluences on their parenting.

nly 14% of all parents say they feel they are very familiar with what the Biblehas to say about parentingeven though 77% identify themselves as Christians.

Among parents who attend religious worship services weekly, 38% indicatethey get no encouragement from…the Bible.1

1 http

://www.lifeway.com/article/168874/

https://calvaryabq.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=2007-01&Category_Code=&Store_Code=CALVARY



30

OFF THE CUFF

So many parents want tofranchise out their responsibility



31

Dr. Albert Mohler

is president of SouthernBaptist Theological Seminary.He is a former nationwide

radio show host and currentmember of the board of Focuson the Family. Time magazinecalled Mohler the “reigning

intellectual of the evangelicalmovement in the U.S.”

Pastor Skip: What aresome things that ordinarybelievers, ordinary Christians,can do to be better equippedas representatives in thisworld for Christ?

Dr. Albert Mohler:

ne crucial thing is be sureyou’re in a Bible preaching,gospel loving church thatstands for the right things,teaches the right things, andbelieves the right things. Andthen understand that it’s notjust the ministry of the churchthat is crucial here. In the ldTestament and in the NewTestament, it’s the ministry of

parents raising children in theadmonition of the Lord. Thegreat incubus, the great wombof the faith, is in the family.And that’s where mom anddad have to rise up and takeresponsibility to raise childrenbecause it’s not just an intellectual battle, it’s a battle ofemotions and intuition and allthe rest. Children seeing their

parents modeling authenticChristianity and in the church,seeing church leaders andpeople they admire living outauthentic Christianitythey’rein an entirely different position from those that never hadthat experience.

Pastor Skip: Kids beingraised in Christian homes

spend a good chunk of theirtime in school, a smallerchunk of their time in Sundayschool, but a larger chunkof their time at home. Myquestion to you is: How canparents equip their kids witha kind of worldview apologetics? How can they learn toequip their children in the waythey need to be equipped?

Dr. Albert Mohler:That is one of the greatestadventures of a parent’s life.Mom and dad need to say,"K, here’s our mission. We’regoing to transform everymoment of our life into a

teaching moment. When ourchildren are awake, every moment is a teaching moment.When something happens inthe news, we’re going to talkabout it and we’re going tothink about it in a Christianworldview perspective. Whensomething happens and wehave to deal with it as a family,we’re going to deal with it asChristians and we’re going totalk out loud about what happens. When someone dies,when a baby is born, whensomething happens in the lifeof a child, when somethingis seen on television, whenwe see a movie or a Vtogether, we’re going to talkabout this from a Christianperspective." The book ofeuteronomy, in chaptersix, puts it this way: that theparents of Israel are told, “Youdo this when you’re going outand you’re coming in.” Youteach your children. We justput that in a modern contextand recognize, if the parentsof Israel were told to do thisin times of old, the stakesare even higher now for theparents of the church to dofar better.

Pastor Skip: ne of themost frustrating things I seeas a pastor is parents whocome after their kids arealmost grown up. They’venever really talked to theirkids about any of these issuesand now their kids want toleave the church. They reallydoubt their Christianity, andthe parents, having not sownany seeds into that child’s life,now come to the church, nowcome to the pastor, and say,“Fix my child.”

Dr. Albert Mohler:Some studies are now indicating that upwards of 75% of allevangelical young personsbetween the ages of 19 and25 leave and never come backto church. That’s an indictment directly addressed to

us. It’s a great travesty. Somany parents want to franchise out their responsibility.You can’t do thatyou’re theparent. You’re the frontlinepreacher, teacher, judge,executioner, minister, andphysician. You’re the teacher.You are everything to yourchild. And for that reason,we need to pray that theparents of our churches willalso be equipped. And that’swhere the church has a greatresponsibility. Something ismissing, Skip. You have a Titus2 kind of ministry that’s justnot going on. There shouldbe older couples helpingyounger couples to do this.lder women helping youngermothers. lder men helpingyounger men to know how todo this. We’ve got men rightnow who are husbands andfathers who really didn’t havefathers in the home. We needsome older men to comealongside them and mentorthem explicitly in the contextof the local church. I thinkGod’s glory is all over that.

*Transcribed from an interview withSkip Heitzig on February's First Friday Connection radio program.



Question: I’ve heard many statistics quoted by esteemed

pastors who state that children who have only one believing parent are less likely to continue on in church as adults. Is this true? And if so, what can we do?

FROM THE BLOG

pontificating. It’s modelinggodly behavior.

Abraham Lincoln oncesaid, “For a man to trainup a child in the way he

should go, he must walkthat way himself.” Kidslearn more by what theywatch than by what theyhear. If what they hear andwhat they see are worldsapart, that’s a messageamessage of hypocrisy.

The influence of one parent alone is significant. Iknow the ideal is two, butGod can make one go along wayfurther thanyou might think. There isnothing like the influenceof a godly parent. Some ofthe most impressive kidscan come from a singleparent family where the

parent loves the Lord andinfluences the kids.

Not convinced? In theNew Testament, a greatbiblical example is Timothy. Both his mother andgrandmother were believersbut not his father. Yettheir influence was suchthat Paul hailed him as

unique among his followers (see Philippians2:19-23.

A hundred years ago,singleparent familieswere due to the deathof a parentrather than

32

with Skip Heitzig

Statistics like that aresobering. I once readthat there are 12 millionsingle parents in the US(three times more thanin 1960, and that 28% ofchildren are being raisedby a single parent. Today,the numbers may be evenhigher. And there’s a newphenomenon: Single dadsare raising kids becauseof the increase in womenwalking out on their families.

If you’re a single parent,I want to say that Godhas a special interest inyou. ead this descriptionof Him: “A father of thefatherless, a defender ofwidows, is God in His holyhabitation” (Psalm 68:5.

Parental involvement is

more than saying, “Youshould go to church!” It’sleading by example. Welove to throw out Proverbs22:6: “Train up a child inthe way he should go, andwhen he is old he will notdepart from it.” We treatthat as if all we have to dois talk to the kids every

now and then, throw out afew principles, and they’llbe fine. But the term “trainup” is broad. It doesn’tjust mean dictate educational values to them.It means to affect one’staste. It goes far beyond

divorce or outofwedlockchildbirths. But there wereextended families so thatif a parent was absent,another family membercould step in. In today’smobile culture, whatgroup ought to assumethe responsibility for thefamily? Us. The church.We can provide assistance to single parentsand mentoring for thechildren. We can be available to listen and support.

So do your best, availyourself to the body ofChrist, and entrust therest to God. Let Him beyour child’s heavenlyFather. Allow His Word tomentor your child. emember His faithfulness:“Can a woman forget hernursing child, and not

have compassion on theson of her womb? Surelythey may forget, yet I willnot forget you” (Isaiah49:15.

skipheitzig.com



33

It g o e s f a r b e yo n d

p o n t ific a t in g . It ’s m o d e l in g g o d l y

b e h a v io r .



34

THE GALLERY

1. Train [children] in the way they should go, and not in the way

that they would.2. Train up your [children] with all tenderness, affection, and

patience. I do not mean that you are to spoil [them], but Ido mean that you should let [them] see that you love [them].

3. Train your children with an abiding persuasion in yourmind that much depends upon you.

4. Train with this thought continually before your eyes —

that the soul of your child is the first thing to be considered.5. Train your children [in] knowledge of the Bible.

6. Train them in the habit of prayer.

7. Train them in habits of diligence and regularity about publicmeans of grace.

8. Train them to have faith.

9. Train them to be obedient.

10. Train them in the habit of always speaking the truth.

11. Train them in the habit of always redeeming the time.

12. Train them with a constant fear of over-indulgence.

13. Train them remembering continually how God trainsHis children.

14. Train them remembering continually the influence of

your own example.15. Train them remembering continually the power of sin.

16. Train them remembering continually the promises ofScripture.

17. Train them, lastly, with continual prayerfor a blessing on all you do.

– J.C. Ryle

Adapted from

“The Duties of Parents”



35

DAILY DEVOthrough the Bible with Sk ip Heitzig

APRIL 1 Read: 1 Kings 18:17-40Reflect: Then it happened,when Ahab saw Elijah, thatAhab said to him, “Is thatyou, O troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17 Respond : “Like Elijah, wecan have faith that whateverGod commands us to do, Hewill provide what we need tocarry it through.”Return: 1 Kings 18:41-46

APRIL 2 Read: 1 Kings 19:1-18Reflect: Then Jezebel sent amessenger to Elijah, saying,“So let the gods to me, and

more also, if I do not makeyour life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about thistime” (1 Kings 19:2.Respond : “ejoice at God’scontrol over the turbulence ofthis world.”Return: 1 Kings 19:19-22:53

APRIL 3

Read: 2 Kings 1:1-3Reflect: But the angel of theLord said to Elijah the Tish-bite, “Arise, go up to meet themessengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Isit because there is no God inIsrael that you are going toinquire of Baal-Zebub, the godof Ekron?’” (2 Kings 1:3 Respond : “ur God is a pur

suing God, constantly reaching out to people until He isforced to judge them.”Return: 2 Kings 1:4

APRIL 4 Read: 2 Kings 1:5-12Reflect: So they answeredhim, “A hairy man wearing a

leather belt around his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah theTishbite” (2 Kings 1:8.Respond : “Each of us needsto be faithful to Jesus Christand daily prepare for His return, which is a certainty.”Return: 2 Kings 1:13-3:27

APRIL 5 Read: 2 Kings 4:1-37Reflect: Now when she cameto the man of God at the hill,she caught him by the feet,but Gehazi came near to pushher away. But the man of Godsaid, “Let her alone; for hersoul is in deep distress, andthe Lord has hidden it from

me, and has not told me (2Kings 4:27.Respond : “We should expectGod to speak to us by HisSpirit and understand that theLord does reveal His plans forus when the time is right.”Return: 2 Kings 4:38-44

APRIL 6 Read: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Reflect: Are not the Abanahand the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all thewaters of Israel? Could I notwash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away ina rage (2 Kings 5:12.Respond : “We tend to havepreconceived ideas abouthow God does or should

work in our lives. ften, we’rewrong.”Return: 2 Kings 5:15-10:36

APRIL 7 Read: 2 Kings 11:1-12Reflect: When Athaliahthe mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she

arose and destroyed all theroyal heirs. But Jehosheba, thedaughter of King Joram, sisterof Ahaziah, took Joash the sonof Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sonswho were being murdered;and they hid him and his nursein the bedroom, from Athaliah,

so that he was not killed(2 Kings 11:1-2.Respond : “Pause and thankGod for His unfailing promises.”Return: 2 Kings 11:13-21

APRIL 8 Read: 2 Kings 12:1-16Reflect: In the seventh year of

Jehu, Jehoash became king,and he reigned forty years inJerusalem. His mother’s namewas Zibiah of Beersheba.Jehoash did what was rightin the sight of the Lord all thedays in which Jehoiada thepriest instructed him (2 Kings12:1-2.Respond : “Jesus never said,‘Follow My people.’ He said,

‘Follow Me!’”Return: 2 Kings 12:17-14:22

APRIL 9 Read: 2 Kings 14:23-25Reflect: He restored theterritory of Israel from theentrance of Hamath to theSea of the Arabah, accordingto the word of the Lord God of

Israel, which He had spokenthrough His servant Jonah theson of Amittai, the prophetwho was from Gath Hepher(2 Kings 14:25.Respond : “God is trustworthyand has ensured that whatyou find between the Bible’scovers is trustworthy as well



36

and something He wants youto know.”Return: 2 Kings 14:26-29

APRIL 10 Read: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20

Reflect: In the twenty-seventhyear of Jeroboam king of Isra-

el, Azariah the son of Amaziah,king of Judah, became king(2 Kings 15:1.Respond : “Turn to a friend,your spouse, or someone elsewho knows you well, and askthat person to help you honestly identify your strengthsand weaknesses.”Return: 2 Kings 17:1-41

APRIL 11 Read: 2 K ings 18:1-16Reflect: He removed the highplaces and broke the sacredpillars, cut down the woodenimage and broke in pieces thebronze serpent that Moseshad made; for until those daysthe children of Israel burnedincense to it, and called

it Nehushtan (2 Kings 18:4Respond : “ur past shouldbe a guidepost, but never ahitching post.”Return: 2 Kings 18:17-24:9

APRIL 12 Read: 2 K ings 24:10-25:7Reflect: Now it came to passin the ninth year of the reign,

in the tenth month, on thetenth day of the month, thatNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalemand encamped against it; andthey built a siege wall againstit all around (2 Kings 25:1.Respond : “Who is the king ofyour heart and life?”Return: 2 Kings 25:8-30

APRIL 13 Read: 1 Chronicles 1:1-34Reflect: These are their gene-alogies (1 Chronicles 1:29.Respond : “Keep a journal inwhich you note observationsabout your life and record

things God is teaching you.”Return: 1 Chronicles 1:35-2:55

APRIL 14 Read: 1 Chronicles 3:1-24Reflect: Now these were thesons of David who were bornto him in Hebron: The firstborn

was Amnon, by Ahinoam theJezreelites; the second, Daniel,by Abigail the Carmelitess(1 Chronicles 3:1.Respond : “Luke 10:20 says,‘ejoice because your namesare registered in heaven.’”Return: 1 Chronicles 4:1-10:14

APRIL 15 Read: 1 Chronicles 11:1-5Reflect: Therefore all theelders of Israel came to theking at Hebron, and Davidmade a covenant with them atHebron before the Lord. Andthey anointed David king overIsrael, according to the wordof the Lord by Samuel(1 Chronicles 11:3.Respond : “avid certainly had

his flaws, but his heart wassensitive toward the Lord.”Return: 1 Chronicles 11:6-8

APRIL 16 Read: 1 Chronicles 11:9-19Reflect: So David went onand became great, and theLord of hosts was with him(1 Chronicles 11:9.Respond : “This book is written with a divine editorial.The writer understands thathistory is one thing but God’sstory is another.”Return: 1 Chronicles 11:20-13:14

APRIL 17 Read: 1 Chronicles 14:1-12Reflect: And David inquiredof God, saying, “Shall I go

up against the Philistines?Will You deliver them into my hand?” The Lord said to him,“Go up, for I will deliver theminto your hand” (1 Chronicles14:10.Respond : “God wants us tounburden our hearts with

our pleasures, our pains, ourlikes, and our dislikes.”Return: 1 Chronicles 14:13-16:43

APRIL 18 Read: 1 Chronicles 17:1-5Reflect: Now it came to pass,when David was dwelling in

his house, that David said toNathan the prophet, “See now,I dwell in a house of cedar, butthe ark of the covenant of theLord is under tent curtains(1 Chronicles 17:1.Respond : “Whatever youplace in God’s hands, He willbless and use for His work.”Return: 1 Chronicles 17:6-10

APRIL 19 Read: 1 Chronicles 17:11-27Reflect: And I will establishhim in My house and in My kingdom forever; and histhrone shall be establishedforever (1 Chronicles 17:14.Respond : “Let’s celebrateGod’s faithful fulfillment ofHis promise to avid through

Jesus Christ.”Return: 1 Chronicles 18:1-29:19

APRIL 20 Read: 1 Chronicles 29:20-28Reflect: So [David] died in agood old age (1 Chronicles29:28.Respond : “The promises ofGod are not bound by time.They last forever.”

Return: 1 Chronicles 29:29-30

APRIL 21 Read: 2 Chronicles 1:1-10Reflect: Now Solomon the sonof David was strengthened inhis kingdom, and the Lord hisGod was with him and exaltedhim exceedingly (2 Chronicles1:1.

Respond : “God’s presence inSolomon’s life made Solomona powerful person.”Return: 2 Chronicles 1:11-2:18

APRIL 22 Read: 2 Chronicles 3:1-17Reflect: Now Solomon began



37

to build the house of the Lordat Jerusalem on Mount Moriah,where the Lord had appearedto his father David, at theplace that David had preparedon the threshing floor of Ornanthe Jebusite (2 Chronicles 3:1.Respond : “In the New Testa

ment, those who belong toChrist are called the templeof God.”Return: 2 Chronicles 4:1-11:23

APRIL 23 Read: 2 Chronicles 12:1-12Reflect: Now when the Lordsaw that they humbled them-selves, the word of the Lordcame to Shemaiah, saying,“They have humbled them-selves; therefore I will notdestroy them, but I will grantthem some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured outon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:7.Respond : “God will honoryour commitment to living inhumility.”

Return: 2 Chronicles 12:13-13:22

APRIL 24 Read: 2 Chronicles 14:1-12Reflect: Asa did what wasgood and right in the eyes of the Lord his God (2 Chronicles14:2.Respond : “What is the everseeing eye of the Lord seeingas He looks at the details ofyour life?”Return: 2 Chronicles 14:13-16:14

APRIL 25 Read: 2 Chronic les 17:1-11Reflect: [Jehoshaphat] soughtthe God of his father, andwalked in His commandmentsand not according to the actsof Israel (2 Chronicles 17:4.

Respond : “The righteous person understands that sayingno enables him to say yes tothe things of the Lord.”Return: 2 Chronicles 17:12-20:19

APRIL 26 Read: 2 Chronicles 20:20-30

Reflect: Now when they be-gan to sing and to praise, theLord set ambushes againstthe people of Ammon, Moab,and Mount Seir, who had comeagainst Judah; and they weredefeated (2 Chronicles 20:22.Respond : “Part of the prepa

ration for spiritual warfare isunderstanding our positionin Christ and being willing towait on the Lord for victory.”Return: 2 Chronicles 20:31-31:21

APRIL 27 Read: 2 Chronicles 32:1-15Reflect: “Be strong andcourageous; do not be afraid

nor dismayed before the kingof Assyria, nor before all themultitude that is with him; forthere are more with us thanwith him. With him is an armof flesh; but with us is theLord our God, to help us andto fight our battles” And thepeople were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah (2 Chronicles 32:7-8.

Respond : “Encouragement isone of the strongest tools inthe Christian’s tool bag.”Return: 2 Chronicles 32:16-35:27

APRIL 28 Read: 2 Chronicles 36:1-23Reflect: Thus says Cyrus kingof Persia: All the kingdomsof the earth the Lord God of

heaven has given me. And Hehas commanded me to buildHim a house at Jerusalemwhich is in Judah. Who isamong you of all His people?May the Lord his God be withhim, and let him go up!(2 Chronicles 36:23 Respond : “When Jesus cameto earth, it was better thanhaving the Jerusalem templewith God’s presence.”Return: Ezra 1-2:54

APRIL 29 Read: Ezra 2:55-65Reflect: The whole assembly together was forty-two thou-sand three hundred and sixty,

besides their male and femaleservants, of whom there wereseven thousand three hundredand thirty-seven; and they hadtwo hundred men and womensingers (Ezra 2:64-65.Respond : “When you begin tofeel a little too comfortable

where you are, ask the Lordto fill you with increased spiritual passion.”Return: Ezra 2:65-70

APRIL 30 Read: E zra 3:1-13Reflect: But many of thepriests and Levites and headsof the fathers’ houses, old menwho had seen the first temple,wept with a loud voice whenthe foundations of this templewas laid before their eyes. Yetmany shouted aloud for joy (Ezra 3:12.Respond : “It is hard to moveforward when you are lookingbackward.”Return: Ezra 4:1-24

MAY 1 Read: E zra 5:1-17Reflect: Then the prophetHaggai and Zechariah the sonof Iddo, prophets, prophesiedto the Jews who were in Judahand Jerusalem, in the nameof the God of Israel, who wasover them (Ezra 5:1.Respond : “Give to God’s servants that one extra degree,and you’ll be cheering themon to continue the work ofGod.”Return: Ezra 6:1-22

MAY 2 Read: Ezra 7:1-27Reflect: This Ezra cameup from Babylon; and he wasa skilled scribe in the Law

of Moses, which the LordGod of Israel had given. Theking granted him all hisrequest, according to thehand of the Lord his Godupon him (Ezra 7:6.Respond : “If God decidessomething needs to happen,



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no onenot even a kingcanthwart that plan.”Return: Ezra 8:1-9:15

MAY 3 Read: Ezra 10:1-15Reflect: Now while Ezra waspraying and while he was con-

fessing, weeping, and bowingdown before the house of God,a very large assembly of men,women, and children gatheredto him from Israel; for thepeople wept very bitterly (Ezra 10:1.Respond : “Perhaps the greatest need in the church todayis for genuine mourning, fortears of confession, and forrepentance over our sins.”Return: Ezra 10:16-44

MAY 4 Read: Nehemiah 1:1-5Reflect: Hanani one of my brethren came with men fromJudah; and I asked themconcerning the Jews who hadescaped, who had survived

the captivity, and concerningJerusalem (Nehemiah 1:2 Respond : “You never knowhow God will use a conversation in your life.”Return: Nehemiah 1:6-11

MAY 5 Read: Nehemiah 2:1-16Reflect: Then the king said tome, “What do you request?” SoI prayed to the God of heaven.And I said to the king, “If itpleases the king, and if yourservant has found favor inyour sight, I ask that you sendme to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it” (Nehemiah 2:4-5.Respond : “It’s the heartfeltintensity of prayer that mat

ters.”Return: Nehemiah 2:17-20

MAY 6 Read: Nehemiah 3:1-12Reflect: Then Eliashib thehigh priest rose up with hisbrethren the priests and

built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung itsdoors. They built as far as theTower of the Hundred, andconsecrated it, then as faras the Tower of Hananel.Next to Eliashib the men of Jericho built. And next to them

Zaccur the son of Imri built(Nehemiah 3:1-2.Respond : “Take your place‘next to’ your brothers andsisters, and get involved inthe work of God’s kingdom.”Return: Nehemiah 3:13-32

MAY 7 Read: Nehemiah 4:1-15Reflect: But it so happened,when Sanballat heard that wewere rebuilding the wall, thathe was furious and very indig-nant, and mocked the Jews(Nehemiah 4:1.Respond : “If you are doingGod’s will, you can expect anattack.”Return: Nehemiah 4:16-7:73

MAY 8 Read: Nehemiah 8:1-12Reflect: So they read dis-tinctly from the book, in theLaw of God; and they gavethe sense, and helped them tounderstand the reading (Nehemiah 8:8.Respond : “History has neverseen a genuine revival thatdid not have the Word of Godat its core.”Return: Nehemiah 8:13-13:31

MAY 9 Read: Esther 1:1-4:17Reflect: For if you remaincompletely silent at this time,relief and deliverance willarise for the Jews from an-other place, but you and your

father’s house will perish. Yetwho knows whether you havecome to the kingdom for sucha time as this? (Esther 4:14 Respond : “The next timeyou find yourself wondering,Why am I here? ask God toincrease your awareness of

how He is working in your life.”Return: Esther 5:1-10:3

MAY 10 Read: Job 1:1-22Reflect: Then Job arose, torehis robe, and shaved his head;and he fell to the ground and

worshiped (Job 1:20.Respond : “Pain moves us inone of two directions: towardGod or away from God.”Return: Job 2:1-2

MAY 11 Read: Job 2:3-3:26Reflect: Then the Lord said toSatan, “Have you consideredMy servant Job, that there isnone like him on the earth, ablameless and upright man,one who fears God and shunsevil? And still he holds fastto his integrity, although youincited Me against him, todestroy him without cause” (Job 2:3.Respond : “If God allows us togo through the fire of Satan’s

attack, He will still have Hiseye on us and His finger onthe thermostat.”Return: Job 4:1-15:35

MAY 12 Read: Job 16:1-17:16Reflect: I have heard many such things; miserable com-forters are you all! (Job 16:2

Respond : “If you want tobe a genuine and effectivecomforter, be less like Job’s‘friends’ and more like Jesus.”Return: Job 18:1-37:24

MAY 13 Read: Job 38:1-41Reflect: Now prepare your-self like a man; I will questionyou, and you shall answer Me.

Where were you when I laidthe foundations of the earth?Tell Me, if you have under-standing (Job 38:3-4.Respond : “on’t let your inability to understand God’sways shake your faith inGod’s love.”



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Return: Job 39:1-42:17

MAY 14 Read: Psalm 1:1-3Reflect: Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counselof the ungodly, nor stands inthe path of sinners, nor sits in

the seat of the scornful(Psalm 1:1.Respond : “The happy persondeclines ungodly advice andunrighteous companions butdelights in God’s truth.”Return: Psalm 1:4-2:3

MAY 15 Read: Psalm 2:4-12Reflect: He who sits in theheavens shall laugh; the Lordshall hold them in derision(Psalm 2:4.Respond : “The sovereign Lordremains in control.”Return: Psalm 3:1-22:31

MAY 16 Read: Psalm 23:1-6Reflect: The Lord is my shep-

herd; I shall not want (Psalm23:1). Respond: “[avid] knew thatthe quality of life for sheepwas completely dependenton the characteristics of theshepherd.”Return: Psalm 24:1-50:23

MAY 17

Read: Psalm 51:1-19Reflect: Against You, You only,have I sinned, and done thisevil in Your sight (Psalm 51:4.Respond : “Find a few quietmoments to search your heartand ask God to reveal the sinin your life.”Return: Psalm 52:1-72:20

MAY 18

Read: Psalm 73:1-28Reflect: When I thought how to understand this, it was toopainful for me—until I wentinto the sanctuary of God;then I understood their end(Psalm 73:16-17.Respond : “A grateful heart…

acts like a magnet, makingthe particles of God’s blessing easier to see.”Return: Psalm 74:1-89:52

MAY 19 Read: Psalm 90:1-17Reflect: So teach us to

number our days, that wemay gain a heart of wisdom(Psalm 90:12.Respond : “There is greatwisdom in remembering thatcounting each day isn’t asimportant as making eachday count.”Return: Psalm 91:1-149:9

MAY 20 Read: Psalm 150:1-6Reflect: Praise Him withloud cymbals; praise Himwith clashing cymbals! Leteverything that has breathpraise the Lord. Praise theLord! (Psalm 150:5-6 Respond : “For what shouldwe praise God? For who He isand what He does.”

Return: Proverbs 1:1-6

MAY 21 Read: Proverbs 1:7-19Reflect: The fear of the Lordis the beginning of knowledge,but fools despise wisdomand instruction (Proverbs 1:7.Respond : “When we have thisreverential ‘fear’ of God, we

begin to live wisely and well.”Return: Proverbs 1:20-33

MAY 22 Read: Proverbs 2:1-11Reflect: Yes, if you cry outfor discernment, and lift upyour voice for understanding,if you seek her as silver, andsearch for her as for hiddentreasures; then you will un-

derstand the fear of the Lord(Proverbs 2:3-5.Respond : “Look for passion inyour pursuit of God.”Return: Proverbs 2:12-22

MAY 23 Read: Proverbs 3:1-12Reflect: Trust in the Lordwith all your heart, and leannot on your own understand-ing (Proverbs 3:5.Respond : “Each of us as individuals needs to decide where

we place our own trust.”Return: Proverbs 3:13-35

MAY 24 Read: Proverbs 4:1-27Reflect: Hear, my son, andreceive my sayings, and theyears of your life will be many (Proverbs 4:10.Respond : “King Solomon’smethod was for parents totrain their children with bothinstruction and practical living.”Return: Proverbs 5:1-23

MAY 25 Read: Proverbs 6:1-12:28Reflect: A little sleep, a littleslumber, a little folding of thehands to sleep—so shall yourpoverty come on you like a

prowler (Proverbs 6:10-11.Respond : “ne of the waysour lives can reflect the Lordwhom we serve is to let excellence be the hallmark ofour work.”Return: Proverbs 13:1-16:15

MAY 26 Read: Proverbs 16:16-23:35

Reflect: Pleasant words arelike a honeycomb, sweetnessto the soul and health to thebones (Proverbs 16:24.Respond : “Words containincredible power to delightor to destroy, to poison or topraise.”Return: Proverbs 24:1-30:33

MAY 27 Read: Proverbs 31:1-31Reflect: Who can find a virtu-ous wife? For her worth is farabove rubies (Proverbs 31:10.Respond : “Unfortunately, menend up searching for virtualwomen instead of virtuouswomen.”Return: Ecclesiastes 1:1



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MAY 28 Read: Ecclesiastes 1:2-18Reflect: “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2.Respond : “Apart from God’sSon, it’s impossible to under

stand our existence.”Return: Ecclesiastes 2:1-4:16

MAY 29 Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7:29Reflect: Walk prudently whenyou go to the house of God;and draw near to hear ratherthan to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know

that they do evil…For in themultitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:1, 7.Respond : “Flowery speechmay impress the person whois praying, but it makes little ifany impression on God.”Return: Ecclesiastes 8:1-11:10

MAY 30 Read: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14Reflect: Remember now yourCreator in the days of youryouth, before the difficultdays come, and the yearsdraw near when you say, “Ihave no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1.Respond : “Trying to find satisfaction and meaning in what

the world offers is like trying to quench your thirst bydrinking seawater.”Return: Song of Solomon1:1-17

MAY 31 Read: Song of Solomon 2:1-17Reflect: He brought me tothe banqueting house, andhis banner over me was love(Song of Solomon 2:4.Respond : “If you are married,how might you demonstratelove for your spouse in tangible and Godhonoring ways?”Return: Song of Solomon 3:1-4:16

JUNE 1 Read: Song of Solomon 5:1-16Reflect: I have taken off my robe; how can I put it onagain? I have washed my feet; how can I defile them?(Song of Solomon 5:3 Respond : “This is a beautiful

picture of a couple who desire to restore their relationship rather than prove theyare right.”Return: Song of Solomon 6:1-13

JUNE 2 Read: Song of Solomon 7:1-13Reflect: How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with

your delights! (Song of Solomon 7:6 Respond : “The fire of passionbetween these two lovers isstill burning bright becausethe flame of commitment isstill present.”Return: Song of Solomon 8:1-14

JUNE 3 Read: Isaiah 1:1-3:26Reflect: “Come now, and letus reason together,” says theLord, “Though your sins arelike scarlet, they shall be aswhite as snow; though they arered like crimson, they shall beas wool” (Isaiah 1:18.Respond : “God has made adeal with the world that istoo good to pass up. o you

know someone you shouldtalk to today to present God’soffer of salvation?”Return: Isaiah 4:1-5:30

JUNE 4 Read: Isaiah 6:1-8:22Reflect: In the year that KingUzziah died, I saw the Lordsitting on a throne, high andlifted up, and the train of Hisrobe filled the temple (Isaiah6:1.Respond : “While the peoplewere asking, ‘Who will leadus? Who will sit on thethrone?’ Isaiah focused hiseyes on the Lord.”Return: Isaiah 9:1-10:34

JUNE 5 Read: Isaiah 11:1-20:6Reflect: There shall comeforth a Rod from the stemof Jesse, and a Branch shallgrow out of his roots (Isaiah11:1.Respond : “The fulfillment of

Isaiah’s messianic propheciesbegan with Christ’s birth, butits completion will be spreadover a long period of time.”Return: Isaiah 21:1-36:22

JUNE 6 Read: Isaiah 37:1-43:28Reflect: Then the angel of theLord went out, and killed in

the camp of the Assyrians onehundred and eighty-five thou-sand; and when people aroseearly in the morning, therewere the corpses—all dead(Isaiah 37:36.Respond : “Never underestimate the power of theangelsand more important,the God whom they serve.”Return: Isaiah 44:1-52:15

JUNE 7 Read: Isaiah 53:1-60:22Reflect: But He was woundedfor our transgressions, He wasbruised for our iniquities; thechastisement for our peacewas upon Him, and by Hisstripes we are healed (Isaiah53:5.

Respond : “The Son of Godbecame a man so men couldbecome sons of God.”Return: Isaiah 61:1-66:24

JUNE 8 Read: Jeremiah 1:1-4:31Reflect: Then said I: “Ah, LordGod! Behold, I cannot speak,for I am a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6.Respond : “When God chooses foolish and weak things,the Lord receives glory fromtheir accomplishments.”Return: Jeremiah 5:1-8:22

JUNE 9 Read: Jeremiah 9:1-13:27Reflect: Oh, that my head



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were waters, and my eyes afountain of tears, that I mightweep day and night for theslain of the daughter of my people! (Jeremiah 9:1 Respond : “We can learn fromthe weeping prophet, Jeremiah, how to have a heart of

compassion for our world.”Return: Jeremiah 14:1-17:27

JUNE 10 Read: Jeremiah 18:1-23:40Reflect: “Arise and go downto the potter’s house, andthere I will cause you to hearMy words” (Jeremiah 18:2.Respond : “It may hurt forGod’s firm hand to push yourlife into shape, but it’s betterthan being broken.”Return: Jeremiah 24:1-28:17

JUNE 11 Read: Jeremiah 29:1-40:16Reflect: For I know thethoughts that I think towardyou, says the Lord, thoughtsof peace and not of evil, to

give you a future and a hope(Jeremiah 29:11.Respond : “In our moments ofcrisis, we need to hold on toGod’s Word with its promises,admonitions, and rebukes.”Return: Jeremiah 41:1-52:34

JUNE 12 Read: Lamentations 1:1-22Reflect: “Is it nothing to you,all you who pass by? Beholdand see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which has beenbrought on me, which the Lordhas inflicted in the day of Hisfierce anger” (Lamentations1:12.Respond : “Through this book,the prophet seems to inviteus to express our sorrow for

the sin in our world as well.”Return: Lamentations 2:1-22

JUNE 13 Read: Lamentations 3:1-25Reflect: Through the Lord’smercies we are not consumed,because His compassions fail

not. They are new every morn-ing; great is Your faithfulness(Lamentations 3:22-23.Respond : “Jeremiah’s words,‘Great is His faithfulness,’ affirm the bedrock of our faith.”Return: Lamentations 3:26-39

JUNE 14 Read: Lamentations 3:40-5:22Reflect: Let us search out andexamine our ways, and turnback to the Lord (Lamentations 3:40.Respond : “Affliction in a believer’s life is always underthe sovereign control of aloving God.”Return: Ezekiel 1:1-2:10

JUNE 15 Read: Ezekiel 3:1-6:14Reflect: “Son of man, I havemade you a watchman for thehouse of Israel; therefore heara word from My mouth, andgive them warning from Me” (Ezekiel 3:17.Respond : “We still need

watchmen in our world todaywho will cry out against therepercussions of a godlessworldview.”Return: Ezekiel 7:1-10:22

JUNE 16 Read: Ezekiel 11:1-20:49Reflect: Then the Spirit of theLord fell upon me, and saidto me, “Speak! ‘Thus says theLord: “Thus you have said, Ohouse of Israel; for I know thethings that come into yourmind” (Ezekiel 11:5.Respond : “Be aware of God’spresence throughout yourday, whether people can seeyou or not.”Return: Ezekiel 21:1-27:36

JUNE 17 Read: Ezekiel 28:1-32:32Reflect: “Son of man, takeup a lamentation for the kingof Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thussays the Lord God: “You werethe seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

You were in Eden, the gardenof God” (Ezekiel 28:12-13.Respond : “Instead of focusing on Satan, we need to beaware of his existence butconcentrate on Jesus.”Return: Ezekiel 33:1-36:38

JUNE 18 Read: Ezekiel 37:1-42:20Reflect: Again He said to me,“Prophesy to these bones,and say to them, ‘O dry bones,hear the word of the Lord!’” (Ezekiel 37:4 Respond : “God is able to revive dry bones.”Return: Ezekiel 43:1-48:35

JUNE 19 Read: Daniel 1:1-1:10Reflect: But Daniel purposedin his heart that he would notdefile himself with the portionof the king’s delicacies, norwith the wine which he drank;therefore he requested of thechief of the eunuchs that hemight not defile himself

(aniel 1:8.Respond : “Your reputation iswhat you are on the outside;your character is what you arewhen no one is looking.”Return: aniel 1:11-1:21

JUNE 20 Read: Daniel 2:1-45Reflect: Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands,and that it broke in pieces theiron, the bronze, the clay, thesilver, and the gold—the greatGod has made known to theking what will come to passafter this. The dream is cer-tain, and its interpretation issure (aniel 2:45.Respond : “n that day that

Jesus Christ returns, in fact,all of man’s kingdoms willcome to a screeching halt.”Return: aniel 2:46-3:7

JUNE 21 Read: Daniel 3:8-5:31Reflect: “Look!” he answered,



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“I see four men loose, walkingin the midst of the fire; andthey are not hurt, and the formof the fourth is like the Son of God” (aniel 3:25.Respond : “While God doesn’talways save us from ourtroubles, He walks with us in

our trials.”Return: aniel 6:1-8:27

JUNE 22 Read: Daniel 9:1-10:21Reflect: “Know therefore andunderstand, that from the go-ing forth of the command torestore and build Jerusalemuntil Messiah the Prince, thereshall be seven weeks and six-ty-two weeks” (aniel 9:25.Respond : “Today’s story reassures us that God is right ontime.”Return: aniel 11:1-12:13

JUNE 23 Read: Hosea 1:1-11Reflect: When the Lord beganto speak by Hosea, the Lord

said to Hosea: “Go, take your-self a wife of harlotry and chil-dren of harlotry, for the landhas committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord(Hosea 1:2.Respond : “The Lord toldHosea to marry a harlot as asymbol of how far Israel hadmoved away from God.”

Return:Hosea 2:1-23

JUNE 24 Read: Hosea 3:1-9:17Reflect: Afterward the chil-dren of Israel shall return andseek the Lord their God andDavid their king. They shallfear the Lord and His good-ness in the latter days (Hosea3:5.

Respond : “Jesus Christ redeemed our lives from theslave market of sin and madeus children of God.”Return: Hosea 10:1-13:16

JUNE 25 Read: Hosea 14:1-9

Reflect: O Israel, return to theLord your God, for you havestumbled because of youriniquity; take words with you,and return to the Lord. Say toHim, “Take away all iniquity;receive us graciously, for wewill offer the sacrifices of our

lips” (Hosea 14:1-2.Respond : “Brokenness before the Lord brings greatstrength.”Return: Joel 1:1-20

JUNE 26 Read: Joel 2:1-3:21Reflect: “So I will restore toyou the years that the swarm-

ing locust has eaten, thecrawling locust, the consum-ing locust, and the chewinglocust, My great army which Isent among you” (Joel 2:25.Respond : “Beyond the destruction, the prophet revealsGod’s heart to restore man.”Return: Amos 1:1-5:27

JUNE 27 Read: Amos 6:1-8:14Reflect: Then Amos an-swered, and said to Amaziah:“I was no prophet, nor was I ason of a prophet, but I was asheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit” (Amos 7:14.Respond : “God’s calling ismore important than qualifications.”

Return: Amos 9:1-15

JUNE 28 Read: Obadiah 1:1-10Reflect: “Behold, I will makeyou small among the nations;you shall be greatly despised.The pride of your heart hasdeceived you” (badiah 1:2-3.Respond : “God hates pride,and clearly Edom was acocky, godless nation.”Return: badiah 1:11-21

JUNE 29 Read: Jonah 1:1-17Reflect: But Jonah aroseto flee to Tarshish from thepresence of the Lord. He went

down to Joppa, and found aship going to Tarshish; so hepaid the fare, and went downinto it, to go with them toTarshish from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3.Respond : “As a Christian, youshould be compliant to God’s

will and the commands ofScripture.”Return: Jonah 2:1-10

JUNE 30 Read: Jonah 3:1-4:11Reflect: So he prayed to theLord, and said, “Ah, Lord, wasnot this what I said when I wasstill in my country? ThereforeI fled previously to Tarshish;for I know that You are a gra-cious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lov-ingkindness, One who relentsfrom doing harm” (Jonah 4:2.Respond : “Because of ourcorrupt human nature, it’shard for us to see God blessothers.”Return: Micah 1:1-5:15



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Connection the Magazine - Spring 2011