Wednesday, February 8, 2023

So Much Has Changed

 

I am so burdened by what I see happening in society today.  The following article by Nancy Campbell touched me deeply.  The piece is used with her permission, and I highly recommend her blog as well as  her books.

Please read this piece and take the time to ponder her words.  I hope you'll also share it with others.  

Within the next week, I'll write a post about what G-d has been laying on my heart about this subject.

Blessings to you, dear Gail-Friends.

ARE WE DEGENERATING?

 

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,

and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,

and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls”

(Jeremiah 6:15).



What I share with you now may seem archaic, even unbelievable in this society in which we live. However, it reveals how the bar of God's standard continues to lower in every generation.


I grew up as a child never entering a movie theater. It was considered evil. My mother, who has since passed away, never went into a movie theater in her life. Nor did my husband's mother! When I was older and began to go to a "good" movie, I remember saying to my mother, "Mother, you could come and see this movie. It is totally wholesome." But she replied, "Oh no, the Lord might come while I am there!" And she wouldn't want to be found in a movie theater if the Lord came for her!


But of course, when television came in, all standards went out the door. Now, many Christians receive into their homes all the filth and rubbish of the world. They watch adultery and fornication—and worse, without batting an eye! Many Christians go off to every new movie that comes without any discretion! No wonder we don't see the power of God moving in our midst today. We are a lukewarm people—overcome with mediocrity, complacency, ordinariness, passivity, and middle-of-the-road blindness!


What about church? When I was a young girl, we worshipped together as a family in the morning. We would never think of missing church—rain, hail or snow! Never any excuses! We were committed to the faithful g Hebrews 10:24). We came home for lunch and then we children walked back for Sunday School in the afternoon (a couple of miles). Then we attended the Sunday evening service.


Next generation . . . instead of three times a day, we got down to two services—morning and evening church. Now, we are down to one service in the morning, and that's it! Help, with so many Christian families no longer committed the gathering of God’s people every week, will we even have one service in the next generation?

 

What about family life? We have so many wonderful godly families in the nation who are raising godly children. And yet sadly, across Christendom, many families have the mindset of the world. They have limited their families to two children. They are so excited when they have their son and daughter, and think, that’s it! The current average number of children per family in USA is 1.9 per family and that’s among Christians as well as the secular world.

 

I remember talking to an elderly gentleman on one of my flights. He told me that his father came from a family of ten children, and he came from a family of six. “How many children did you have?” I asked. “Two,” he replied. Very typical. Ten, six, two! Every generation has less children. Degeneration. Falling away from God’s original plan and purpose for mankind. We have become victims of a humanistic society. The blind leading the blind into the ditch!

 

It used to be normal to sit together as a family to eat meals. To communicate with one another. In our busy lifestyles today many families don’t even sit around the table to eat together! If they do, they bring their iPhones to the table! They don’t even communicate face to face. Now that really is degeneration!


Perhaps the statement is true: “Each generation is one generation away from degeneration.” In the midst of lethargy, tolerance of sin, and deception, let's keep seeking after God and His truth with all our hearts.

 

Dear mother, you are the transmitter of God’s truth and His ways to the next generation. If the next generation forget God’s ways, it is the mothers who are to blame! Wow. That’s a load. But it’s true. God has given us the powerful responsibility to communicate His ways to our children, our grandchildren, and the next generation.

 

I am always challenged by Isaiah 59:21 (HCSB): “As for Me, this is My covenant with them, says the LORD: ‘My Spirit who is on you, and My words that I have it in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of your children, or from the mouth of your children’s children, from now on and forever,’ says the LORD.’”

 

We must do more than getting into their hearts. We must get it into their mouths so that keeps coming forth out of their mouths to each succeeding generation.

 

NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

 

PRAYER

“Dear Father, save me from dropping the baton. Help me to be faithful to pass on your truth and Your ways to my children and succeeding generations. Amen.”

 

AFFIRMATION:

I am diligently implanting God’s truth and His ways into the MINDS, the HEARTS, and the MOUTHS of my children and future generations.

Sunday, December 18, 2022

A Song for Hanukkah

 


 We are getting ready for Hanukkah 'cause we light the first candle on Sunday, December 18 at sundown.  I love this time of year, and especially when it coincides with Christmas.  We'll be celebrating both at our synagogue on Shabbat / Christmas Eve.  So, really, we'll be celebrating three things.  

I wanted to encourage all who don't know about Hanukkah to click on the links to the right of this page.  Lots of info there:  the story, the food (with recipes), the songs, the decorations, and the fun.  It's all there for you to enjoy.  (click Hanukkah, Chanukah, and Christmas)

Here's my favorite Hanukkah song for your enjoyment:  Hanukkah Song by Marty Goetz

 And - my most favorite singer - a playlist that will bless your heart:   Reverence of the Night by Amanda Wilson

Have a wonderful, happy, worshipful holiday season, Gail-Friends.

 

 

 


Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Mama's table and china cabinet
 

Are you cooking like a mad woman?  I am, and I love it!  I always bring out my mama's recipe for southern style cornbread dressing with giblet gravy.  I'll be cooking that along with a roasted turkey, turnip greens with rutabagas, and sweet potato pie (Jem's favorite).  My daughter will be making Mama's broccoli casserole, her paternal grandmother's squash casserole, and her own yummy grape salad. 

Tomorrow as we sit around her table (which I cherish), these traditions will bring back sweet memories of the  many holiday meals we've shared.  She's been gone for seven years now and my memories of her grow sweeter every year.  She was quite a lady and a wonderful cook.  Daddy never did like to go to restaurants, and why would he when he had the best cook in the world?

We had a wonderful experience this week.  We delivered food baskets with the Basket Brigade to needy families in our community.  The gratitude and joyful tears of the people we met really blessed our hearts.  We're going to make it a Thanksgiving tradition.

One of the things I'm thankful for on this holiday is that we still have a holiday that acknowledges God.  Growing up in the pubic school system, I was taught about the Pilgrims and how they thanked Him for the blessings of making it to a country with religious freedom.  I wonder if that's sstill being taught today.  I read this very interesting article today about the history of the first settlers and their connection to Judaism.  Here's the link -  First Fruits of Zion

I've found FFOZ to be a great resource.  Check it out!

Some of the things I'm thankful for this year are:

  • our family - especially our new grandson
  • our health and strength - we're doing very well for our age. 
  • our synagogue family - such a precious, loving, caring group we have
  • life in America - in spite of all the terrible things that have happened over the last two years.  We still live in the best country of all.
  • God's Word - oh, how I thank Him for preserving it over thousands of years and how accessible it is now - especially all of the translations available on Bible Gateway
  • our neighbors and community - we live in a small town and I love it
  • for my state (Florida) which I call paradise - and for our governor (DeSantis).  I hope he runs for president one day.  Jem got to meet him recently when he came to the museum to make a commercial for his campaign.  The Gov. gave Jem a hat, a t-shirt, and then they had photos taken together.
  • religious freedom - let's never take that for granted, Gail-Friends. 
     

   I'd love to know what you'll be doing for Thanksgiving, and what you're thankful for.