Them before us: putting children first

September 12, 2024

You’ve arrived! Welcome to The Smart Edit newsletter. This week … investing in children first, maximizing your Kingdom impact, and God gives wicked rulers!?

The Smart Edit is here to help daylight 🌅 the Kingdom of Christ for you, encouraging you to finish the year strong and walk fully in your calling.

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KINGDOM DYNAMIC
Them before us: putting children first

(This short 2.5 minute video and text content are from The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC), an international community with a vision for a better world where every citizen can prosper, contribute and flourish.)

Who am I? Do I belong? Our search for identity is at the heart of human existence. There is no better place to find these answers than in our families.

Studies show that children flourish when they are raised by their biological parents in stable families. The nuclear family offers a secure and loving environment in which children can discover who they are, where they belong, and how to embrace their identity. Stable families are a pillar of society.

Heavenly Father, we thank you that ‘family’ is sourced in the community of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Develop us to express marriage and family in harmony with your design. We receive from you. Thank you. Amen.

📱 Uncommon wisdom for maximizing your Kingdom impact with Frank Viola (Ep 320)

This conversation with Frank Viola is a fascinating look at what will increase true spiritual power in your life and circle of influence. These dynamics are timeless, field-tested principles to steward God's power. Learn to release God's authority to make a lasting impact on others for good.

Listent to Ep 320 of the JesusSmartX podcast on your favorite podcast app. Or stream here.

Perfection of power. Our hour of weakness is God’s potential hour of power in us. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12.9 ESV). Are you questing for God’s perfected power through your growth process?

Lies and falsities carry the seeds of their own destruction. They may seem strong for a moment, but they will eventually collapse. The truth, however, always surfaces. “Truthful lips will endure forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19 NASB).

Wartime mentality. Christians in the West seem to settle into a peacetime mentality for the most part—most do not have a sense of urgency about the spiritual war we’re in. "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle" (Psalm 144.1 ESV).

STELLAR QUOTE
When God wants to judge a nation

John Calvin (1509-1564) was a French theologian, pastor, and tireless reformer during the Protestant Reformation.

We see precedent for this in Scripture. The rebellious northern kingdom of Israel in the Old Testament had a total of 19 kings. All of them were wicked. The southern kingdom of Judah had 20 kings and 8 of them were considered wicked according to the Old Testament.

At the time of Jesus' birth, Israel was under Roman control because of its long history of sin. Did you know that Herod the Great, who ruled from 37 BC to about 4 AD, was a puppet king under Rome?

Herod was known for his paranoia and cruelty. He’s infamous for ordering the Massacre of the Innocents, trying to kill Jesus as an infant (Matthew 2:16-18).

What do you think about John Calvin’s statement? Does God chastise nations and try to get the attention of sinful societies in this way?

"He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge" (Psalm 94.10 ESV).

WORD WEALTH 🪙 
Set apart to Christ and his kingdom

What does it mean to be “sanctified?”

Hagiadzo (Gk., hag-ee-ad-zoe) in the New Testament means to hallow, set apart, dedicate, consecrate. It is a state of holiness, opposite of koinon which means unclean or common.

It's a higher way of living for the Christ-follower, brought about by the Holy Spirit. We're called out from the world’s system and fully dedicated to God's kingdom.

“May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5.23 NKJV).

Lord, sanctify me in your truth. May I increasingly be conformed to your nature. Let your Spirit rest upon me. Fill me with your presence and power. Thank you. Amen.

Amazon. Revival grips Brazil's Amazon. 'We baptized 14,500 people' (CBN News)

3 classes of Americans. 1) “We the people.” 2) Visible public-facing leaders. 3) “Shadow government”—deep state pulling strings of public-facing leaders. This construct is seen around the world. Americans can work to restore a consitutional republic. Long game.

God’s got the U.S. election in His hands, but that doesn’t mean we can sit back and do nothing. Some people say, “If God’s in control, I don’t need to pray or vote or do anything.” But here’s the truth: God has a plan, but he also has means to fulfill that plan—this applies to everything, including elections. 👀 Check out this uplifting 3-minute video!

The ethics of AI: how far is to far? (Barna)

Lowering standards. A staggering 77% of U.S. young adults failed to meet the military's health standards, leading to a lowering of the entry requirements. RFK Jr.’s policy suggestions for a healthier America.

Fancy yourself a preacher creature? The Word of the Week is pontificate — express one’s opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic. Latin, early 19th century. “Rather than pontificate, he led off the meeting by asking each team member’s opinion first.” Source: WordDaily