Christian Living | For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters…

He Was My Grandfather; I Loved Him. (June 2022)

Image from the picture book They Were Strong and Good
by Robert Lawson, winner of the Caldecott medal in 1941

I was re-organizing and cleaning in the bedroom a week or so ago when I came across a small photo album of some pictures my grandmother had given me from when I was growing up. My husband and some of our children were there, helping, and we stopped to flip through the album. When I saw one particular photo of a few family members sitting at a kitchen table, I stopped and put my finger on Grampey and held the book out so everyone could see better.

“He was my grandfather,” I said. Then the memory of this man that I loved—the man that that little girl with pigtails sat looking up at adoringly and chattering away at—came flooding back. All I could get out was “I loved him.”

Thank you, Lord, for “strong and good” grandfathers and grandmothers, fathers and mothers. They are imperfect (as are we), but they are beautiful in our eyes. You have blessed us with the presence of each of them, using them to work out Your purposes in our lives, and we love them.

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6

Those Who Didn't Go Astray (December 2020)

Our family finished reading the book of Ezekiel together this morning in devotions. Tucked away in the last chapter is a verse with an important concept that might easily be overlooked amongst all the temple measurements, land divisions, and worship directives included in Ezekiel’s final vision. Chapter 48, verse 11 says, “It [the holy oblation] shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.” Notice that God has reserved a special future blessing in the Millennial reign for the part of Israel that obeyed Him, that didn’t go astray when all the others went astray!

Because God is immutable in character, He is still the same God today. I believe He is still looking for those who will obey Him in spite of what is going on around them, who will delight in the narrow path while the majority stumble blindly along the broad way. I encouraged my children again this morning to be like the sons of Zadok so that God may someday say of them, “This blessing shall be for the sons and daughters of the Beals, who kept my charge, who went not astray when the children of America went astray.”

You can encourage your children, mothers, to approach the Scriptures this way. It is the Living Word, and we can find out how to relate to our Heavenly Father, how to please Him, and how to walk after Him and think His thoughts after Him by reading both the Old Testament and the New with the expectation that He wants us to glean something from them. God still looks for those who will serve Him faithfully, and He still wants to bless them! Teach your children how to hear the voice of the Shepherd and how to follow Him only, so that your descendants may be among those who not only live in the safety of the will of God in their lifetimes but who may one day receive special commendation directly from their Heavenly Father both in the Millennial reign and beyond.

Remember Ebed-melech? (June 2020)

Could not find source for image; appears to be public domain.

Do your children know of a man named Ebed-melech in the Old Testament? If they don’t, they should. His story is an encouraging one! You will find him referenced in chapters 38 and 39 of Jeremiah. In the first half of chapter 38, you can read how Jeremiah gives a prophecy to King Zedekiah that his princes do not like, so the princes have Jeremiah thrown into the dungeon (a miry pit). But there is a man in the palace, a servant Ebed-melech, who learns what has happened to this godly prophet and who becomes very concerned. And he doesn’t just “feel bad” about how Jeremiah is getting treated, but he determines to do what he can to right the problem. Ebed-melech goes to the king to beg Jeremiah’s life. Because “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord” (Prov. 21:1), Zedekiah allows this servant to take thirty other men with him and bring up Jeremiah from the pit where he was likely to have starved to death.

Ebed-melech’s actions please the Lord. We see in the end of chapter 39 that because of Ebed-melech’s courage and compassion, he is singled out for a blessing in a time of great judgment. God is going to allow the Chaldeans (Babylon) to destroy Jerusalem, and the fearful Ebed-melech is told that he will be there to see it happen but that he will be delivered because He has demonstrated faith in God.

Isn’t that what any of us would want for our children? For them to be spared in the time of judgment and for God to have his hand of protection upon them specially? II Chron 16:9a says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” Encourage your children to have a perfect heart toward God, to not only believe in Him but to act on their faith as Ebel-melech did, so that when God is next looking for someone to bless, He will notice them!

Accidental Homeschooling (March 2020)

If you know “accidental homeschoolers” who are struggling right now with what to do with their new and sudden responsibilities, be sure to encourage them! You’ve been walking this road longer than they have. Remember to look back and give them a hand to help them along. Many of the families who now find themselves homeschooling due to Covid-19 will send their children back to the schools, but for some this will be the beginning of a journey they otherwise never would have known that they wanted to take! Let’s pray that God turns the hearts of the fathers and mothers of the nation to Him during this time, and that many families discover they’re not “stuck at home” rather they’re “blessed at home.”

We also need to pray for one another that we not react in fear to all the bad news around us. Remember that the Lord is near to us; He hears us when we cry out to Him (so long as our hearts are pure before Him). Let us not be like the rebellious city in Zephaniah 3 that would not receive correction of the LORD, that would not obey Him or draw near unto Him. Let us instead give God reverence, obedience, and devotion (I’m preaching to myself as well) that we can be like Jerusalem restored in verse 17 of the same chapter, which says

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.”

Thanksgiving Thoughts (November 2019)

We want to challenge you to incorporate education into your Thanksgiving celebration. Please don’t let the day go by without reminding your children and grandchildren why we celebrate Thanksgiving in the first place. Let’s make sure that in our homes at least it’s about more than turkey and football. Our forefathers and mothers sacrificed so much to come here and give us the gift of religious liberty. What better time to share some Scripture, some history, some encouragement for the next generation to carry the torch than when everyone’s gathered around the dining room table?

If you are looking for something to share but aren’t sure where to begin, here are links to a few excellent selections: Five Kernels of Corn, The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789.

O praise the LORD, all ye nations:
praise him, all ye people.
For his merciful kindness is great toward us:
and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.
Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 117

Happy Thanksgiving!

Keeping the "CH" in Christmas

For a happy Christmas, prioritize these three things:

CHrist —	“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6a) Remember it’s His birthday. Put Christ first in your heart and in your holiday plans.
CHildren —	“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD.” (Psalm 127:3a) Spend more time with your children than money on them. Worry more about making memories than piling up presents.
CHarity —	“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:17a) Look beyond your own walls. See who needs a meal, a gift, a call, an invitation to join the festivities, encouragement. Do what you can to meet the need, and pray for God to supply the rest.

Merry Christmas from Roots by the River!

Encouragement for Dedicated Parents

Encouragement for Dedicated Parents

I see your perfect hearts toward Me;
  I see your tender love.
I’ve watched you guide your children in
  The path that leads above.

The hours, the days, the months, the years
  You pour into their souls
Are not in vain; still train them in
  The way they ought to go.

Your work shall be rewarded
  Though in sowing time you weep.
Weed and water; persevere.
  With great gladness you shall reap.

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”   Psalm 126:5-6

September 2019 Thoughts

As we begin the new homeschool year, we wanted to take the opportunity to encourage you with two important Scriptures. The first is a good reminder for us as parents and the second for our children:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. – II Timothy 2:15

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