I have always been inspired by the words in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, A Psalm of Life—“But to act, that each tomorrow find us farther than today.” I believe that each day should be a new day of learning and enlightenment, don’t you? We should never allow ourselves to become stagnant. How boring is that?

2 Peter 3:18 says, “But GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” If a plant does not grow, it is because it is dead! Growing and increasing is part of LIFE!

Each new day we are to grow in grace of Jesus Christ, learning and experiencing more of His victorious life working in us. We are to grow in knowledge, especially the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ for “in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). There is always more and more to fathom, learn and experience.

Doesn’t it make each new day exciting? Every new day is an opportunity to learn and experience more of Christ and more facets of wisdom and knowledge! (Wow, my Above Rubies helper just showed me something new and helpful I can do on the computer when editing! I love learning something new!)

A great question you can ask your children at your Family Meal Table this evening is, “What was something new you learned today?” Ask each child to share something—this gets them into the habit of always wanting to learn and expand their knowledge. They’ll want to hear from Mommy and Daddy, too!

Love from Nancy
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Last night we had our weekly prayer meeting in our home. Since coming to this community 12 years ago, we have been praying with neighbors of all different denominations. What a joy to pray together or our community and for the nation.

Last night there were nine little children with us in the prayer meeting. It was so encouraging to hear these young children praying fervently and intelligently for needs in the nation. We must not ever think prayer meetings are only for adults. Always include your children in prayer meetings. Of course, if they are praying daily at Family Devotions, they will be used to praying out loud. This is the greatest training we can give our children. We can give our children the greatest education, but if we have not taught them how to spontaneously pray, we have failed in our teaching.

I love the words of Leviticus 26:8 where God says, “Five of you shall chase an hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.” The greatest way to pursue your enemies is by prayer and intercession. How many children in your family? Do you have three! You, your husband, and your children (five of you) can put 100 enemies to flight! Isn’t that amazing! What if you have more children? You can send more enemies to bite the dust.

One of the most powerful things you can do as a parent is to raise mighty prayer warriors.

Nancy

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I AM THANKFUL TODAY!
Read Colossians 2.7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and say out loud, “I am thankful today.” Thank God for specific things for which you are thankful. Here are some things for which I am grateful.

T I thank God for Teaching me His ways
H I thank God for giving me my Husband
A I thank God for Anointing me to be a mother
N I thank God for creating me to be a Nurturer and Nourisher to my
family
K I thank God for His Kindness to me
F I thank God for my Family and His daily Faithfulness to me
U I thank God for giving me Understanding of His truth
L I thank God for Loving me enough to die for me and shed His
precious blood for my sins

Today, let’s take positive action to thank God for each little thing—the beauty of spring, the little joys of our children, or a kind word someone says to us.

Love from NANCY

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I am sure you know by memory Romans 12:2, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The word “transformed” is “metamorphoo” in the Greek. Because we understand the metamorphosis of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly, we get to see the full understanding of this word. We are not to slightly change from the culture of this society. Through the constant filling of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are to change into a completely different person. We will live a totally different lifestyle than the humanistic culture around us.

Metamorphoo is the same word that is used when Jesus was “transfigured” in front of Peter, James and John. He didn’t slightly change, but was totally transformed. “His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matthew 17:1-2).

The J. B. Phillip’s translation says, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould” and Williams’ translates it, “Stop living in accordance with the customs of this world.” If we are living pretty much like everyone in society around us, we are most probably entrenched in the humanistic culture and don’t even know it! God wants to transform us into a totally different person, one that lines up with His biblical culture.

We are either conformed or transformed.

Love from Nancy
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