Dark Sayings of Old (and a Free Devotional eBook)

What do I want to leave my children and grandchildren when I leave this present world?

It would be nice to leave them a few riches in material goods, but I don't know how much of that is going to happen.  But much more important than that, I want to leave them riches in Christ.  I want to leave them a godly legacy.

As I get older,  it is more and more clear how little time we have on this earth.  I pray that I never take my time with my family for granted for it is the only time I have to show them who Christ is and what He can do for them.  I want to live in such a way before them that their desire will be to love and serve Christ whole-heartedly. This is what I read in Psalms 78:1-4: Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Here are some things I ought to do as a parent, grand parent, or instructor, using the examples in the Bible to teach my children truth:

1. Tell them and read to them from God's Word all that He has done. Teach them the holiness of God so that they learn to reverence Him, love Him, and obey Him.

2. Use object lessons to teach them God's truths.  My husband was very good at using travel time, play time, dinner time, etc. to take every day happenings and make lessons out of them to teach the truth of God's Word to our children.   We are grateful it paid off.  As parents we ought to work hard at practicing Deuteronomy 6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

3. Don't ever hide these things from my children. Don't be silent about God's goodness by keeping it to myself.  Show them from God's Word and through examples in my own life. Show them and tell them of His strength, the works that He has done, and answers to prayer.   Praise Him continually before my children and grandchildren. Teach them to teach their children the same.  Why? So that generation after generation will know God and who He is and will in turn continue to pass it on to the next generation.  Today we see more and more of a generation that does not know God!   Is it perhaps that the parents and grandparents neglected to teach it to them? Just suppose that Moses' parents and Daniel's parents and the three Hebrew children's parents had not taught them about God.  What might have been different?  And what might be different in the future if we faithfully teach our children; one of them may be used of God for “such a time as this”!

(I've recently been reading this story of a woman who left a godly legacy.  She was a prayer warrior; she walked by faith, not by sight.  She prayed, believed God, and God answered.  She was a godly example to her family.  You will not be able to put the book down.)

My parents also left us a godly legacy.  I saw my mom every morning read her Bible and pray.  She was consistent and lived what she learned in front of us.  My dad also, if he was not working, was studying his Bible and taking notes.  We are privileged to have his Bible notes now and it is just exciting to me to hold them in my hands knowing they are written with his own hand writing. Godly parents are such a treasure and what a treasure to know that we will one day be together again in eternity.   Recently, I have been scanning all his notes and putting them into files so they can be shared with all the family. He wrote one study on effectual prayer, which I in turn studied and it was such a blessing to me.  It prompted me to write my own notes regarding effectual prayer.

I enjoy writing in journals every day.  I keep a daily log of happenings and blessings and thoughts and meditations from God's Word.  I do so hoping  that one day my children and grandchildren will read about my blessings and the treasures of things God has taught me from His Word; hoping that in turn some of these things will speak to their hearts and help them to grow in grace.

If you have never done so,  I encourage you to write down something everyday that is a blessing to you from God's Word, even if it is just a verse.  It will keep it in your mind better and who knows but that one day your children or grandchildren will read the things that the Lord has taught you, only to apply them to their own lives.

I am also working on a devotional book in eBook form.  You are welcome to sign up to receive the first volume for free!   These are just random devotions from my daily time with the Lord; I pray that you will be encouraged with something from God's Word that you can apply to your own life.