God's Children #1

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Deut 6:5-7, www.solascriptura.com

Father, first you teach us what we must be like if we are to be Your children. It is so easy to say the we love You with all of our heart, soul and strength. Help us, this day, to contemplate what that means. We can see that it reaches a depth that calls for strength and fidelity that seems beyond us. It is in fact, impossible to be perfect in our relationship with You, in our own strength.

Teach us what we must do, moment by moment, to draw closer to You. Your word says that if we will draw near to You, You will draw near to us. The initiative clearly lies with us.

Then Father, you say we "shall" teach Your words to our children, not "may", but "shall". And when do You say we should do this? ...when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. It is no wonder that my grandchildren say "Oh no, Pappy is going to talk about God again!" Give us wisdom and discernment as to when to share, we pray, in Jesus' Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #2

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. We will not hide them from ... children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;

Psalms 78:1, 4-7, www.solascriptura.com

Father, very early on You stated a law that persists today. We are to make Your testimony known to our children. O' God, in these times we find it increasingly difficult to teach our children Your ways. All of society, it seems, is pointing our children toward values and behaviors that You tell us are wrong. How can we intervene without losing contact with our kids?

Jesus, you are the only person on this earth that never sinned and when the children came to You, You embraced them and told us that the sweet nature of their hearts, the faith of a child was what you required of us. Father, it seems that the first line of defense that we have when we ask our children to know and to live Your word, is for us to know and live Your word.

Let our example to our children be acceptable in Your sight.

Strengthen our knowledge of You and give us the courage to approach our children wrapped in Your righteousness. Help us to tell our children that we too have experienced temptation and we too have sinned by being disobedient, and then help us to share the word with them, as a family. An old fashioned family Bible reading, arranged as a daily part of every family's schedule, would be a good first step. Help us to choose to teach our children how to follow You, we pray, amen.



Bruce CaldwellGod's children, October 31, 2007

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. We will not hide them from ... children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;



Psalms 78:1,4-7, www.solascriptura.com



Father, very early on You stated a law that persists today. We are to make Your testimony known to our children. O' God, in these times we find it increasingly difficult to teach our children Your ways. All of society, it seems, is pointing our children toward values and behaviors that You tell us are wrong. How can we intervene without losing contact with our kids?



Jesus, you are the only person on this earth that never sinned and when the children came to You, You embraced them and told us that the sweet nature of their hearts, the faith of a child was what you required of us. Father, it seems that the first line of defense that we have when we ask our children to know and to live Your word, is for us to know and live Your word.



Let our example to our children be acceptable in Your sight. Strengthen our knowledge of You and give us the courage to approach our children wrapped in Your righteousness. Help us to tell our children that we too have experienced temptation and we too have sinned by being disobedient, and then help us to share the word with them, as a family. An old fashioned family Bible reading, arranged as a daily part of every family's schedule, would be a good first step. Help us to choose to teach our children how to follow You, we pray, amen.



Bruce CaldwellGod's children, October 31, 2007

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. We will not hide them from ... children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;



Psalms 78:1,4-7, www.solascriptura.com



Father, very early on You stated a law that persists today. We are to make Your testimony known to our children. O' God, in these times we find it increasingly difficult to teach our children Your ways. All of society, it seems, is pointing our children toward values and behaviors that You tell us are wrong. How can we intervene without losing contact with our kids?



Jesus, you are the only person on this earth that never sinned and when the children came to You, You embraced them and told us that the sweet nature of their hearts, the faith of a child was what you required of us. Father, it seems that the first line of defense that we have when we ask our children to know and to live Your word, is for us to know and live Your word.



Let our example to our children be acceptable in Your sight. Strengthen our knowledge of You and give us the courage to approach our children wrapped in Your righteousness. Help us to tell our children that we too have experienced temptation and we too have sinned by being disobedient, and then help us to share the word with them, as a family. An old fashioned family Bible reading, arranged as a daily part of every family's schedule, would be a good first step. Help us to choose to teach our children how to follow You, we pray, amen.



Bruce CaldwellGod's children, October 31, 2007

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. We will not hide them from ... children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;



Psalms 78:1,4-7, www.solascriptura.com



Father, very early on You stated a law that persists today. We are to make Your testimony known to our children. O' God, in these times we find it increasingly difficult to teach our children Your ways. All of society, it seems, is pointing our children toward values and behaviors that You tell us are wrong. How can we intervene without losing contact with our kids?



Jesus, you are the only person on this earth that never sinned and when the children came to You, You embraced them and told us that the sweet nature of their hearts, the faith of a child was what you required of us. Father, it seems that the first line of defense that we have when we ask our children to know and to live Your word, is for us to know and live Your word.



Let our example to our children be acceptable in Your sight. Strengthen our knowledge of You and give us the courage to approach our children wrapped in Your righteousness. Help us to tell our children that we too have experienced temptation and we too have sinned by being disobedient, and then help us to share the word with them, as a family. An old fashioned family Bible reading, arranged as a daily part of every family's schedule, would be a good first step. Help us to choose to teach our children how to follow You, we pray, amen.



Bruce CaldwellGod's children, October 31, 2007

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. We will not hide them from ... children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;



Psalms 78:1,4-7, www.solascriptura.com



Father, very early on You stated a law that persists today. We are to make Your testimony known to our children. O' God, in these times we find it increasingly difficult to teach our children Your ways. All of society, it seems, is pointing our children toward values and behaviors that You tell us are wrong. How can we intervene without losing contact with our kids?



Jesus, you are the only person on this earth that never sinned and when the children came to You, You embraced them and told us that the sweet nature of their hearts, the faith of a child was what you required of us. Father, it seems that the first line of defense that we have when we ask our children to know and to live Your word, is for us to know and live Your word.



Let our example to our children be acceptable in Your sight. Strengthen our knowledge of You and give us the courage to approach our children wrapped in Your righteousness. Help us to tell our children that we too have experienced temptation and we too have sinned by being disobedient, and then help us to share the word with them, as a family. An old fashioned family Bible reading, arranged as a daily part of every family's schedule, would be a good first step. Help us to choose to teach our children how to follow You, we pray, amen.



Bruce CaldwellGod's children, October 31, 2007

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. We will not hide them from ... children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;



Psalms 78:1,4-7, www.solascriptura.com



Father, very early on You stated a law that persists today. We are to make Your testimony known to our children. O' God, in these times we find it increasingly difficult to teach our children Your ways. All of society, it seems, is pointing our children toward values and behaviors that You tell us are wrong. How can we intervene without losing contact with our kids?



Jesus, you are the only person on this earth that never sinned and when the children came to You, You embraced them and told us that the sweet nature of their hearts, the faith of a child was what you required of us. Father, it seems that the first line of defense that we have when we ask our children to know and to live Your word, is for us to know and live Your word.



Let our example to our children be acceptable in Your sight. Strengthen our knowledge of You and give us the courage to approach our children wrapped in Your righteousness. Help us to tell our children that we too have experienced temptation and we too have sinned by being disobedient, and then help us to share the word with them, as a family. An old fashioned family Bible reading, arranged as a daily part of every family's schedule, would be a good first step. Help us to choose to teach our children how to follow You, we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #3

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.



Psalms 34:11-15, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that King David was "a man after Your own heart" and that You did and You will greatly honor him. Therefore, when David speaks, we would do well to listen since You were his instructor.

David says we should learn to "fear" You. What sort of behavior would a person who fears You display? We know that You are a God too awesome for us to describe and that Your power exceeds anything we have ever known. Is to acknowledge Your omnipotence to fear You?

We do come to You in all humility and contrition knowing that our weaknesses are many yet You tell us to enter into Your presence boldly. How can those two circumstances be reconciled? Only by the blood of Jesus, Who was sacrificed for our sins and Who did so for our redemption, are we able, by Your grace, to turn our fear to love. You tell us that perfect love casts out fear. How else can we contemplate standing before You?

Help us today to speak as You, Jesus, speak. Help us to be filled afresh with the power and wonder of the Holy Spirit which enables us to discard the tendencies of our nature in exchange for Your Spirit in us. You tell us Your ears are open to our cry. Teach us today to not be mute before You or to be blind to Your Holy word. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #4

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.

I John 2:1-6, 12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we come to You, cleansed of our sin because Jesus, our advocate, has made it all possible. We know there is no other way to be in Your presence except at the nomination of ourselves by Jesus.

Our advocate, the One who appeals to You, Himself, paid the price for our sins. This is true of no one else, therefore all judgment has been assigned to Jesus. We can boldly enter into Your presence because our faith is based on the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of a new heart and a completely new start.

The Apostle John speaks plainly about obedience. "He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Keeping Your commandments is not easy. We know our walk with You is a little "uphill" but each day of obedience makes the next day's hill, easier. John says, "walk just as He walked." That is our prayer today. Help us to be more like you every day We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #5

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:5-7 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, Peter, who was one of the most outspoken of the disciples, and after he received the gift of the Holy Spirit, became one of Your most effective ministers. He says that young people should be humble in the presence of their elders.

Peter goes on to say that pride, the opposite of humility, is resisted by God. It is "under Your hand" that we are to be humble, not some self-imposed portrayal of humility. You promise to exalt the humble in due time, to lift us up.

God, help us today to show our children that our humility, to the extent we have any, is simply a by-product of our commitment to You. Your concern for even our smallest needs humbles us before You. Bless us and our children and grandchildren this day, we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #6

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, we notice that Paul said, "obey your parents, in the Lord." Help us, today, to know that we need to be "in the Lord" if we are to properly teach our children Your will. Jesus, the concept of children being obedient carries so much more weight when the parents are "in the Lord".

What Jesus is it, "to be in the Lord"? You have taught us many times that our personal salvation is necessary if we are to be interpreting and teaching our children, Your wisdom, Your expectations.

Jesus, even though it is apparent that we need to teach our children, in Your ways, we also need to be very careful not to provoke our children and to set much higher standards for them than we do ourselves. Give us wisdom and patience, this day. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #7

… He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Ephesians 1:4-5, 11, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, predestination is such a mystery to us. Paul reminds us that You chose us, that is, You knew from the beginning of time which of us would respond to Your call. Does that mean we had no choice? Apparently not, because You repeatedly teach us to seek You, to pray about Your will for our lives to be fulfilled, to pray for the disadvantaged, to proclaim You to the lost.

Jesus, Paul himself was a persecutor of Christians and he certainly declared himself as Your enemy. He did not know that You would come to him and draw him to Yourself.

Father, we too, have choices, but the fact that You know what choices we will make is a mystery to us, but not to You. You will not lose one who seeks You.

Help us to be among those that You knew would respond to Your call and thank You, Jesus, for calling us, for claiming us as Your own. Bless us and we seek to know You, better and better. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #8

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:11, Galatians 4:6-7 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, we know the children are Yours but we also see that they, at some point, stop thinking as a child. What is it, Jesus, to put away childish things? We can guess. We begin to choose, to seek the truth, to cope with sin, to make decisions about our relationship with You. We stop being hand fed and we begin to invest our lives in bearing fruit in the lives of others.

We know this is Satan's domain and that You have given him great latitude to bring us and our children down. We are born into sin with hearts of flesh but Father, thank You for sending Jesus to us and teaching us that we can stop being a slave to sin. We are able to become Your children, heirs of Your kingdom. Help us not to waiver in our choice and to wholeheartedly seek a perfect relationship with You, this day. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #9

... as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Romans 8:14-17 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, we know that those who do not proclaim their love for You, will experience fear when You judge them. On the other hand, if we love You, we have a Spirit of adoption. You are our Savior, our Friend.

Your Spirit bears witness to our spirit, confirming Your presence. We may or may not be suffering for having declared our faith in You, but if we do, and it seems we will, we know that is confirmation of the fact that we are heirs with You. You suffered for us and if we suffer for You, we should consider it as an opportunity to bring glory to You.

Jesus, we never want to suffer but help us to take the risks associated with declaring You before our family, friends and neighbors. It is our great privilege to do so. We pray in Your Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #10

My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 3:1-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, for Solomon's wisdom, imparted to us, we are grateful. Help us, this day, to bind Your truth, to secure it for eternity and to know that it gives us guidance, comfort and counsel.

Father, we do not, if we have any idea of Your Holiness, lean upon our own understanding. It is Your understanding of all of the circumstances of our lives that we depend upon. We know You love us and will provide for us as we seek to serve You.

We do regard Your corrections of us as important and for our own good. We are imperfect, in so many ways. Bless as we seek to be like You Jesus We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #11

Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.

"And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood.

"And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

"But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

"Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

"And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'

"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

"So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

"And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'

"But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

"So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

'But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'

"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"

Luke 15:11-32 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, this sentence, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours." clarifies for us an important principle that You have taught us many times. It is how we finish that counts, whether we are the lifelong loyal child or the one who sinned greatly and finally came back to You. The reward for committing our lives to You is the same whether we serve long or briefly. Just as a small pile of sins does not make us more worthy, neither does a large pile of sins make us less worthy.

Sin is sin and salvation is salvation. All sin, small and large, requires cleansing and let us be happy when our sinful brother or sister is redeemed. The reunion will be less satisfying if any of our loved ones are absent. Fill our hearts with gratitude for the salvation of every soul we pray in Your name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #12

"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

Matthew 18:10, Luke 17:1-2 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, Your love and protection of our children could not be made clearer. You have assigned an angel to each one and that angel comes from the presence of the Father, to comfort and counsel every child. We know from experience, Jesus, that children are imperfect. But, it is not their perfect behavior that protects them; they reside in Your righteousness. We know Your desire is that each child grows up to be a person that chooses to serve You, chooses to follow You.

Jesus, if we as adults somehow interfere with the spiritual development of a child, if we turn a child from You, if we do not teach them the Word and speak of how You are the center of our lives, then You say a very harsh thing to us. "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

We get the point Jesus. Your children are Yours. You "loan" them to us, in a sense, and then You observe our behavior toward them. Teach us, today, what steps we can take to improve our mentoring of them. Help us to teach them Your Core Christian Values, constantly. We confess that we can not do this without Your Spirit guiding us. Bless us and our children this day. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #13

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

Matthew 10:40-42, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, You teach us that there is a domino effect in our relationships. As we receive one of Your children, it as though we were receiving You and when we receive You it as though we received the Father. We know, from other teachings You have given us, that if we do not receive Your children we are rejecting You. What a vital lesson Jesus. Loving others is how we show our love for You.

Then, Jesus, again you explain to us that caring for the needs of a child, and doing so from a grateful heart, is an act of kindness that will not go unnoticed. We know every child has their own angel and we have truly entertained angels without being aware of it. Bless the children and help us show Your love to them. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #14

...they brought young children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16 www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, those who would keep a child from coming to You are as those You scolded in this passage. Help us, as parents, to bring the children to You, to Your Holy word, to prayer and discussion of Your love.

You teach us that a child is a perfect example of perfect love, the kind that You hope characterizes our love for You. Jesus, thank You for teaching us that we are to come to You as a child, perfect in our faith and our trust.

When we observe the purity and innocence of a child, You tell us that these children and their innocence are a representation of persons who will inhabit Your kingdom. How, Jesus, can we ever achieve that kind of innocence? The answer comes from You. "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Amen

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #15

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come...

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:1, 11:9-10 www.solascriptura.com

Father, when we are young, You advise that we remember You, that we store Your words in our hearts, because, as adults, evil days lay ahead.

Help us to assist our children in getting to know You now, while they are still young, before they face temptation on every side. Help us to equip them with Core Christian Values. We know that if they have a solid foundation to lean upon they will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be much more able to resist evil.

Even though childhood and youth may be "vanity", during these wonderful years when their smiles melt our hearts and their innocence charms us, prepare their hearts to serve You and to trust You in all things. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #16

Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.

Proverbs 28:7, 29:15, 17, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we all truly want our children to obey your law and to avoid hanging out with kids who do not know You or at least their habits seem to indicate they do not have a strong relationship with You. We prefer our children be witnesses of Your love, not victims of poor choices.

O'God, our children are under a constant barrage of sinful messages from almost every angle. We try to protect them, to limit their exposure to sin and sinful people but we need Your help in correcting them in a way that brings glory to You.

Help us today to be firm in our convictions and to lovingly relay them to our children. Teach us not to be a bad example to our children but to show them, by our words and actions, how much we love them and You.

When discipline does come Father, help us to teach our children that a tree pruned is a tree that will bear more fruit. Jesus, help us to be like You in trying to direct our children. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

Heaven #2

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.

Psalms 24:3-4, 27:4

Father, not one of us feels we have clean hands and a pure heart. How Father, given our lack of perfection, will You ever let us come into Your presence? We know the answer! We do not come before You in our own righteousness, which compared to the righteousness of Jesus, is as filthy rags. We come cloaked is His righteousness, cleansed by the shedding of His blood. He has made the final sacrifice, dying for our sin, which permits us to stand before You just as if we had never sinned.

Such grace seems too good to be true. Why Father, given all the goofy things we have done, would You send us Your Son as our redeemer? Again, the answer is clear. You love us, You created us in Your image and You desire to have eternal and perfect fellowship with us. Father, what else can we do but rejoice in your kindness and mercy?

We do seek to dwell in Your house all the days of our eternal life and to be taught in Your Holy temple. Prepare our minds and our hearts for this wonderful moment. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #17

My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; Yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way. Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Proverbs 23:15-19, 22-26

Father, we can identify with Solomon when he says his heart rejoices when his child's heart is wise and when the child speaks the truth.

We pray that our children will never envy sinners and we are happy when they honor their mother and father. Help us, today, to set a good example for our children. We are so imperfect as parents that few of us can say, "Do as I do". We pray that our children look to You, Jesus, as the perfect example and that we do the same. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #18

He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 13:24, 22:6, 15, 23:13-14, www.solascriptura.com

Father, as parents, we instinctively want to correct our children when they make errors and we want to praise them when they do well. Help us to select the proper approach to discipline, considering the age, circumstances and the emotional make-up of the child or young person.

We know, Father, that as adults, we experience "correction" from You and that our hearts either convict us or excuse us as we move through the day.

Help us, today, to help our children and young people to look to You and Your Spirit in them as yardsticks for judging their behavior, just as Your Spirit in us teaches us to know right from wrong.

Help us to never punish a child in anger, but if correction is needed, help us to have the intervention fit the circumstance and help us to have shown our love, many times over, before we ever show our disappointment

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #19

...a wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother. He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

"Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it.

Proverbs 10:1, 5, 8:32-33, www.solascriptura.com

Father, such wisdom seems obvious to us but we do experience both grief and joy as parents. Help us, today, with those circumstances where children are alienated from us as parents. We are so tempted to blame the child when they misbehave but it is the heart of the child that has lost focus.

Father, we want to be effective, in our role as parents, to train up our children in the way of the Lord so that they may not depart from Your will when stressful situations come upon them. We surely will be help accountable by You for teaching them Your word.

We pray for wisdom and understanding within our families and for Your hand upon every aspect of our lives and our children's lives. Bless us this day, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #20

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

Ps 139:14-17 www.solascriptura.com

Father, You make it clear that a child waiting to be born is known by You. They are fashioned in Your image, they are wonderfully made. You saw our substance, our being, before we were made.

Father, in the light of these verses, we pray that people do not willfully remove a child from the womb prematurely, that they do not decide to terminate a life that You have ordained.

Father, a huge number of children were not permitted to come into the world. The burden of such decisions remains with us. Some of these decisions were made in ignorance of Your will and some were due to concerns that only a woman can know. But, this is not the unforgivable sin. None of our sins, except rejecting You after having been born of the Spirit, are unforgivable.

This prayer O'God is for us, many of us. We confess not only this sin but all of our sins, knowing that Your grace and mercy simply exceed our understanding. Give us assurance, this day, of Your forgiveness and help us to go forward with a determination, powered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, to sin no more.

We are certain of Your love and compassion for every child, born and unborn and we take comfort in knowing that every child, born and unborn, have their personal angel, assigned by You. No one can take a child from Your hand. Bless us as we acknowledge You in this most complex area. We seek Your guidance, patience and mercy, constantly. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #21

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.

When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

Psalms 128:1-6 www.solascriptura.com

Dear God, here You describe the "way it should be". Our homes should be full of peace and righteousness, our wives as the one who brought forth our heritage and our children as fruitful believers.

Father, when things go wrong in our families, help us to know that is never Your will that a family fall apart. We have just read what You desire for us. Help us to know that the break-up of a family is a huge disappointment to You.

O'God, relationships can be so difficult for so many reasons. Help us to observe that new relationships can be equally difficult. We tend to blame each other, God, for failure. We pray that we each do the right thing, even when our partner is having problems. Praying with or about our partners need is Your way, Father.

We seek empowerment today, in the lives our families, to live together in pursuit of Your will for us. Bring us prayer, to Bible reading and family discussions that allows us to depend upon Your counsel. We simply can not survive, as families, without Your core values governing our relationships. Help us to study them together, often. We pray in Jesus' Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #22

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; you are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; you are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them...

Psalms 71:4-6, 127:3-5 www.solascriptura.com

Father, these first 3 verses are the prayer of every child, some of whom are older than others. You have taken us from the womb of our mothers to Your Holy side. Mothers are to be honored but our birth is into Your eternal kingdom. It is You who we must count on to uphold us. We pray for support from our parents while having certainty of Your love, forever.

Father, children are at once a blessing and forever a responsibility in terms of parental love. It is not easy, Father, to raise a child in this sinful world yet You tell us they are as our arrows, flying into the battle for righteousness and the more we have of them, the better.

Help us today to teach them Your ways and to be a good example to them. We are not able to be a good example in and of our own righteousness. Help us to be as You, today, to our children. We pray in Jesus' Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #23

... let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds...

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.

...he brings out those who are bound into prosperity...

Psalms 68:3-6 www.solascriptura.com

Father, When we are "in Your will", doing righteous things, we feel Your presence and we are thinking about things pure, just, noble and lovely. That is Your stated will for us.

Father, when we are not in your will and we are doing sinful things, it is so obvious to us, sometimes in retrospect and sometimes, right then. Sin simply does not return enduring benefits. Just the opposite. We seem to know or to sense that this is true yet temptation persists. Father, will temptation ever go away? We know it will not until Satan is destroyed and we are in Your eternal presence.

You are our defender, the One that is there for us. When we fail, You lift us up, forgive us and renew us. Help us today to fail less and less and to simply focus on that which is pure and righteous, even as temptation pushes hard against us from every direction. Bless us and hold us up we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #24

Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

We will not hide them from ... children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; Ps 78:1,4-7 www.solascriptura.com

Father, You make it clear that each generation has an obligation to teach the next generation the wonderful works You have done. Help us not to take that responsibility lightly. The "family", whether it is mom, dad and kids or if it is Your children, is a vital part of your teaching. Your "personal" communications to us are a model of what our communications with our children should be like.

You are merciful and loving toward us, You are patient and kind, filling us with hope because You love us. Help us today to be that kind of parent to our children. Since we do not bring the kind of purity to our relationships that you bring to us, we know that we need to lean on You for understanding and strength as we seek to be like You.

Your patience with us is undeserved. Can we show any less patience with our children? Bless us we pray in Jesus' Holy name. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #25

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 www.solascriptura.com

Father, this is the same commandment Jesus referred to when a lawyer asked him what the greatest commandment was. We know Jesus added the other half of the answer by saying "love your neighbor as yourself."

Loving You that much is so right but it raises the question, do we actually possess that deep, perfect love for You and if so, how does it manifest itself in the course of each day?

We know that this kind of love should definitely result in our sharing it with our children, when we teach them, pray with them and speak of You and when we rise up and when we lie down. You expect us to make Your presence a constant reality in the lives of our children. Help us, this day, to declare to You, our intention to fulfill this commandment; then guide us as we seek to teach our children. We pray in Jesus' Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #26

You are of God, little children, ...because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

I John 4:4, 5:1-5 www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know this earth is Satan's domain but here You tell us that You are greater than Satan. We are impotent when it comes to waging war with Satan unless we are in Your hand, filled with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Father, when You told us to bear fruit that gives evidence of our love for You, You made it very uncomplicated. The fruit of one who loves You is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These qualities are so much more attractive than hate, depression, anger, impatience, being unkind and so on. How is it Father we can drift into such circumstances? We know the answer. When we distance ourselves from You, we draw near to the world and its standards.

It is our faith that overcomes the attraction to sin. Yes, Father, sin is attractive and Satan seems to be winning the numbers game, but being in Your presence and being like Jesus brings permanent peace and joy, not transitory, self centered indulgences. Keeping Your commandments is not burdensome, given the clear conscience and joy that follows. Bless us and strengthen us, this day, we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #27

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

I John 3:2-7 www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know You created us in Your own image. You had other choices! Here, the Apostle John, referred to as "the beloved apostle" by Jesus, teaches us that we have not yet seen what will be revealed. He simply tells us to take comfort that we will be as You.

This is the hope that "purifies", Father. What a wonderful truth. Hope in You, purifies us. We, too often, feel impure. John says, "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." Help us today to choose righteousness, not sin. Help us look to You. Be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Fidelity #1

...reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

1 Timothy, 4:7-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You tell us to reject tales and fables and to exercise our mind in a way that brings us into Your presence. Your word says that exercise of the body profits a little and that exercise of our mind toward godliness profits us in a most complete way. Father, we want to "stay in shape" and You proclaim that as good, but You warn us that if that is our physical goal, absent a more encompassing spiritual goal, then we have a priority problem.

You also tell us to enjoy our youth, being vital, while being full of the Holy Spirit seeking to serve You. Father, let our joy and enthusiasm for life bring us to the center of Your will for our life. Bless us as we seek to draw nearer to You. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Fidelity #2

...if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

... we know that ... there is no other God but one.

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

1 Corinthians 8:2-6, www.solascriptura.com

Father, We know nothing of what we will yet know. We see things dimly now that You will yet fully reveal. Help us O'God to gain better and better insight from Your Holy word.

You have just told us that if we love You, we are known by You. It is You alone we worship. Keep us from valuing anything or anyone more than our relationship with You. You are the constant, unchanging Presence and Jesus, You alone are our judge and our Redeemer. Strengthen our fidelity to You. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Fidelity #3

I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus who dwells in us. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

2 Timothy 1:12-14, www.solascriptura.com

Father, not only is this verse from a wonderful old song, but it is a statement of truth. You will help us keep the faith to which we have committed. You will help us see that our commitment is a response to Your commitment. We never walk alone. In thy Son's Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Fidelity #4

... if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

2 Peter 2:20-21

Father, You have taught us that fidelity counts, both in our relationships with others and in our relationship with You. Help us to understand how serious a matter this is. Let us make no vow to You or to others that we are not able to keep.

We know, prior to being saved by Your grace, that we were sinners and that You provided, through Jesus, forgiveness of our sins and provided for our cleansing.

Teach us O'God not to return to infidelity. We have been there and we know how it would disappoint You if we were to return there again. Empower us to serve and to love, we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Heaven #3

...Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive. ..."hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers. ..."hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I Kings 8:30,34,36, Psalms 23:6

Father, the Psalmist says three times, hear in heaven and forgive. We too say, please hear us, please forgive us. Sometimes we feel our prayers are impotent and that You may not listen because our hearts are so out of tune with You.

Help us today, to know that goodness, mercy and Your outstretched hand will follow us if we will but follow You.

Father, we are surrounded by turmoil and distress of every kind. It would be so tempting for us just to give up and live as if there was no rationale for hope. But that would be yielding to what it is Father, a temptation.

Father, You have taught us that Satan tempts but that You allow the test. Help us not to succumb to feelings of despair and hopelessness where Satan sees that he has upended our life.

Our hope is in You and we know that if we are faithful we will please You. That is what we pray for today Father, more faith. Help us to look to You in all circumstances. We know the world has no long-term answers. Teach us and lead us today. We pray in Jesus' name, amen

Bruce Caldwell

God's Children #28

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.

I John 2:1-6,12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we come to You, cleansed of our sin because Jesus, our advocate, has made it all possible. We know there is no other way to be in Your presence except at the nomination of ourselves by Jesus.

Our advocate, the One who appeals to You, Himself, paid the price for our sins. This is true of no one else; therefore all judgment has been assigned to Jesus. We can boldly enter into Your presence because our faith is based on the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of a new heart and a completely new start.

The Apostle John speaks plainly about obedience. "He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Keeping Your commandments is not easy. We know our walk with You is a little "uphill" but each day of obedience makes the next day's hill, easier. John says, "walk just as He walked." That is our prayer today. Help us to be more like you every day We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Fidelity #5

...no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring can yield both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

James 3:8-13, www.solascriptura.com

Father, We know that to be faithful to You, we should not be inconsistent in our approach to others. You have taught us that all people are created in Your image.

Help us look upon people as Your potential servants, some of whom are called early in life and some later. Help us to be an encourager, not saying in one breath that we love You and in the next speak disparagingly of men. Give us the gift of fidelity, one in which our love for You isn't mixed with unloving actions towards others. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell