learning

Teachable Moments, Luke 11

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We got home and then I went back out to the car, looking looking looking because my son lost his wallet (probably) in there, knew he used it in the car, good for that. So yeah it was a situation with an unknown mystery and he started to retrace his steps (again). My first time looking, I bumped my hand against it – found it “easily” while getting trash (straw wrappers) out of the way. I hadn’t seen it blending in either until it was SO OBVIOUSLY there. But really it took a second. Then, I left it there and called to him to come see. It was a ‘teachable moment”… true… it was OK, nothing lost, but still a moment for teaching the value of reevaluating and relooking without panicking. 

So you’ve been there surely –  imagine in a panic (hopefully never) of this type of situation – a wallet or phone or whatever… Remember too the hope – those memories of “it is OK” it might resurface, should resurface, will resurface and then it WAS OK. That trust is teachable. We fortunately or unfortunately have LOTS of teachable moments. 

Isn’t that true for us in faith too? We should be teachable and reassured that mistakes happen, accidents too. And we need to get into a learning frame of mind!

Another teachable moment for kids this time was tonight – I was happy to help just for a little bit at a STEAM event – Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math hosted at the high school for a madhouse of kids – wow. I sat and helped and I love watching the kids WANT to learn – want to TRY – want to PARTICIPATE. And I appreciate having enough strength to tell the parents who might try to “do it” for their kids to LET THEIR KIDS LEARN. Of course each parent was super close and monitoring.

Interesting that THIS is EXACTLY how God is handing us – allowing us to learn – wanting us to learn – and OF COURSE being RIGHT THERE – monitoring – guiding – WANTING to be relied upon. God would rather we NOT take it into our hands only – He would rather we LEARN to be dependent upon Him – and when we praise Him – we please Him.

A teachable moment from God is a real adventure in faith…

Keep Faith!

Keep keepin on!

Amen

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Keeping the Word – Luke 11:27-28
And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

42 – But What Was the Question?

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42 is the answer, to the intersection of life, the universe, and everything – WOW- the god-like computer spit that out after millions of billions of computing power years – but what was the question? I appreciate old nerdy references. And this one is for the movie: “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. And even though I can visualize the scene of placing a fish in one’s ear to hear languages translated, I acknowledge this was not my nerdy obsession, it was my brother’s. Still it’s a cult classic funny intellectual film. I am glad I am old enough to know the references and pick it out in a set of stickers…

Nerds…

And the scene with the answer “42” really does come up with the god-like computer (a colorful spouting hole in a cave wall) saying: “well… you didn’t actually tell me the full question.” yeah…

RIGHT! We all have to be asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS and not just taking any answer without our own computing. SO how do we know what is the right question, let alone the right answer? 

Here, at least for our faith, the Scriptures, the Lord, and the Lord’s people writing for the Lord, can give us truly a PATH to any question in our faith: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.”  

WE MUST MAKE SURE – Make sure we are FIRM IN FAITH. Read our bibles, double check people’s truth with God’s Truth, don’t ask cheap 70’s lighted cracks in rocks – but depend upon and stand upon The Rock.

How? Peter gives this advice too, from years of wisdom hyperspeed-taught to him by the Holy Spirit after years of walking, he is now knowing: “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

WHY? “keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

WHY? “For if you do these things, you will never stumble”

BY BENEFIT OF?  “having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

THEN WHAT? “you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Oh… The “answer” of life is continuing it in God’s Heavenly Kingdom… The “answer” to every question is Jesus (that is always the safe Sunday School answer)…  The “question” to how to live life is following Jesus. He knows the Way – being the Way the Truth and the Life. 

The expanded question is… Why wouldn’t we want all the God wants for us? I want this, and pray you do as well. Confirm one’s election sure. By God’s Divine Power, Peter surely did have this education, and so do we.

Amen to the Answer!

Thank You, Lord Jesus, Your Holy Spirit, and God Our Father Almighty! God, Three in One. (This would make a great sticker wouldn’t it?)

Amen

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2 Peter 1:3-11

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.