16 Rules Which Susannah Wesley Concerning Her Children

HT: Constrained by Grace.

Susannah Wesley was the mother of 19 children, including John and Charles Wesley. Through much adversity, she dedicated her life to instilling a sense of Christian Destiny into each of her children. Her children went on to change the world.
Here are 16 rules she laid down in her home.

1. Eating between meals not allowed.
2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.
3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.
4. Subdue self- will in a child, and those working together with God to save the child's soul.
5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.
6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.
7. Give them nothing that they cry for, and only that when asked for politely.
8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.
9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.
10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.
11. Comment and reward good behavior.
12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.
13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters.
14. Strictly observe all promises.
15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.
16. Teach children to fear the rod.

See also: Biblical Principles For the Family-Four Sermon Series -Kevin Williams
(Especially Sermon 2: Biblical Family pt2-Training & Setting Godly Boundaries For Our Children-Kevin Williams)

Make Meditation on the Word Personal -George Muller

Below is an extract from the excellent George Muller book of which we have five copies to give away for our July Book Giveaway. See HERE to enter.

But again, it is not enough to have prayerful reading only, but we must also meditate on the Word. As in the instance I have just referred to, kneeling before the chair, I meditated on the Word. It was not simply reading it, not simply praying over it. It was all that, but, in addition it
was pondering over what I had read. This is deeply important. If you merely read the Bible, and no more, it is just like water running in at one side and out at the other. In order to be really benefited by it, we must meditate on it. We cannot all of us, of course, spend many hours, or even one or two hours each day in this manner. Our business demands our attention. Yet, however short the time you can afford, give it regularly to reading, prayer and meditation over the Word, and you will find it will well repay you.

Make the Meditation Personal

In connection with this, we should always read and meditate over the Word of God, with reference to ourselves and our own heart. This is deeply important, and I cannot press it too earnestly upon you. We are apt often to read the Word with reference to others. Parents read it
in reference to their children, children for their parents; evangelists read it for their congregations, Sunday-school teachers for their classes. Oh! this is a poor way of reading the Word; if read in this way, it will not profit. I say it deliberately and advisedly, the sooner it is given up, the better for your own souls. Read the Word of God always with reference to your own heart, and when you have received the blessing in your own heart, you will be able to communicate it to others.

Whether you labour as evangelists, as pastors, or as visitors, superintendents of Sunday schools, or teachers, tract distributors or in whatever other capacity you may seek to labor for the Lord, be careful to let the reading of the Word be with distinct reference to your own heart.
Ask yourselves, how does this suit me, either for instruction, for correction, for exhortation, or for rebuke? How does this affect me? If you thus read, and get the blessing in your own soul, how soon it will flow out to others!

FREE Gospel Tracts

Nigel Williams is offering some free Gospel tracts at www.freetractsource.co.uk and there are also a couple of useful articles on the link about using tracts.

See also: Evangelism-How To Share Your Faith Biblically-5 Sermon Series, Kevin Williams

Spurgeon on Having a Burden for the Lost

"I remember, when I have preached at different times in the country, and sometimes here, that my whole soul has agonized over men, every nerve of my body has been strained and I could have wept my very being out of my eyes and carried my whole frame away in a flood of tears, if I could but win souls."~Charles Spurgeon

10 Lessons From Michael Jackson's Death-20 min video

What can we learn from Michael Jackson's Life and Death?
1. It teaches us the dangerous power of idolatry.
2. It teaches us the reality that all flesh is like grass.
3. Enormous wealth is poisonous to flesh.
4. It confirms the Biblical Truth that fallen man is given to self-destruction.
5. It was the example of a WASTED LIFE.
6. Shows us that life is a vacuum outside of Jesus Christ.
7. Is a great reminder that it's been given unto man once to die and then the judgment.
8. It teaches us the vanity of popularity.
9. It reminds us of how short life really is.
10. Teaches us that in the end, he is just another man.

Are You Observing The Wind & Letting People Perish?

by Kevin Williams.

"He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Ecclesiastes 11:4

One verse that has always helped me in sharing my faith is "He that observeth the wind shall not sow" (Ecc 11:4). It is so easy to fall into the trap of judging by appearance and trying to 'play God' by deciding who is and who is not going to be interested in the Gospel. It is also easy to fear man, which "bringeth a snare" (Prov 29:25), by over reacting when someone gives us an unpleasant reaction to the Gospel, and so then being hesitant and fearful of sharing Words of Life with others. The irony of it is that many of us, were the last people one would have imagined would have been converted to Christianity, and before our conversion gave insulting reactions to the Gospel. "Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9) and so just like God changed the heart of the Apostle Paul, He can change the heart of anyone. So with the people you meet throughout your day, don't observe the wind, just sow the Gospel!

George Muller July Book Giveaway -Enter HERE

George Muller has been a great inspiration to me and for our July Book Giveaway we have Five Copies of Valuable Selections from the Writings of George Müller to give away. Thank you once again to Charles and Mona Leiter of Lake Road Chapel for donating the books.

Open to residents of U.K. and Europe. To enter just EMAIL ME your name and town/city where you live. Winners will be draw on Tue 14th July.

Book Description: "Valuable Selections from the Writings of George Müller is a collection of writings chosen especially for the impact they have had in the lives of countless believers. Most of the material was collected by HeartCry Missionary Society in September of 2005, but has been added to, edited, and finally published by Granted Ministries Press at their request.

This booklet includes Müller’s testimony, his teachings on subjects such as faith, the kingdom and its treasures, stewardship, partnership with God, the study of Scripture, and discerning the will of God. Also read Müller’s encouragement to those with unconverted family members; an address once given to young converts regarding the importance of the Word of God; and several excerpts from his journal of God’s abundant provision in the midst of, and out of various trials. After a few pages explaining why Müller desired to begin the orphan houses the book concludes with a final exhortation to prayer."