Family Lines & Fault Lines

Found in family lines are generational patterns that can be traced back to the 3rd and 4th generation.  They are formed from learned behaviors.  And if they're not discovered and dealt with--the family's foundation can crack and crumble.  It is imperative to our spiritual well-being to dig beneath the surface of our lives and identify our "spiritual fault lines."

Remember the song from SOUTH PACIFIC that went something like this:  "You've got to be taught to hate and fear...year after year...you've got to be carefully taught!"  That's LEARNED BEHAVIOR!!!

Spiritual fault lines cause "life-quakes!"  Two siblings "draw the line"--daring the other not to "cross the line!"  One steps over and drops a BOLDER of BLAME on his brother...and the whole earth shakes, quakes, and splits--forming a FAULT LINE!

Fault lines form when behavioral, emotional, and personality traits consistently erupt in displays of negative (sinful) energy.

So how do we patch-up the cracks?  How can we avoid the breaking and quaking?  One way is found in Philippians 4:8-9--

"...whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me [Paul], these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

The Apostle Paul followed Christ's example--and Christ sealed (closed-up) his "fault line"--making him whole again.

And know this:  Only the God of peace can hold (bond) you together and keep you from falling to pieces!