Light Over Darkness

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John 1: 5


In light of what transpired in Virginia this past weekend, I have decided to use bits of a past post and quotes to show how relevant the above verse is. People who came out to show hate and divisiveness reacted violently to the peaceful protests from the opposite side. As a result, Heather Heyer, a young woman who stood up against this divisiveness, lost her life and many people were injured.

This should never have happened.

Despite the torches used on Friday night and the bright sunshine on Saturday, there was darkness in the hearts of many. But God's word says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it"  (John 1: 5).

Here's an excerpt from an earlier post:

 According to Dylann Roof, his goal was to see the races separated. He wanted us to return to the days of segregation. And that's Satan's goal. He is all for division. He hates to see people, especially Christians, united. He divides families, friends, relatives, even nations. But instead of division, we saw on television people of all races and backgrounds hugging each other and mourning the senseless murder of the saints. This tragedy has brought unity in a way that has even crossed political lines.

 Many people have spoken and demonstrated their abhorrence of what took place this weekend. As happened in Orlando and South Carolina and Ferguson and other parts of the United States, whenever evil forces try to divide us, people come together in a greater show of love and solidarity. 

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  John 3: 19. 

There will always be those who will choose darkness over light, hate over love and division over unity, but thank God, they are in the minority. 

Paul says, " But where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Romans 5: 20).

Let's thank God for His grace and for sending His light into the world, a light that the darkness can never overcome. God bless. 

___________________________

My book In the Wilderness will be released tomorrow at the same preorder price of 99c. Get your copy and read about what happens when the light of Jesus Christ transforms a person's life.

What can you do for others?

Do you sometimes wish you could do more for others? Some people seem to have a knack for doing for others. I'm proud to say my daughter is one of those. She is always picking up someone from somewhere, taking an elderly person grocery shopping or just visiting them to see how they are doing. And she thinks nothing of it. She does it cheerfully and willingly, despite having a busy schedule of her own and a home and family to look after. Karon lives what Jesus instructed his disciples to do when he spoke about His second coming. He said the King (referring to Himself) will say to the people on his right:

"I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matthew 25 : 36)

And the people will answer Him, "When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" (v 39)

Jesus continued, "And The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" ( v 40).

Jesus went on to teach that He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (41).

This is a serious thing. You can get thrown into hell for not looking after the sick, or visiting those in prison or feeding the hungry? According to Jesus, you can because it shows you do not have love. 

The apostle John put it this way:  "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death" (1 John 3: 14). 

He continues,  "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (v 18). 

Is there someone you can show love to today? God bless.

______________________________________________________

Do you love to read but find that the most of the books out there contain graphic sex, violence or material that goes against your Christian beliefs? I have written a series of books called the "Egypt" series which strongly bear out the redemption story while providing all the emotion and suspense of a gripping novel. The first book Coming Out of Egypt is available here and the second book In The Wilderness is now on preorder here. Not sure if you're ready to buy? Then click the popup form to receive a free copy of the first chapter so you can decide if you want to read the book. And please share this post with others by clicking on the buttons below. God bless.

Letter To A Brave Girl

In my last post, Choose Love I told you about Sally - a young, unwed mother-to-be who can now find hope and support through the ministry of Embrace Grace, a nation-wide organization that is reaching out to girls like Sally. You too can get involved in this ministry by writing a letter like the one below and mailing it to the address given.

Embrace Grace Inc.

Attn: Love in a Box

700 W Bedford Eueless Rd

Ste G

Hurst, TX 76053

Remember to enter this giveaway just go to http://blessedfreebies.com/embrace-grace.html



What Are We Teaching Our Children?

The 2016 presidential elections have come and gone, but the memories will remain for a lifetime. While some of us here in the US are rejoicing and others are mourning over what could have been, my question is, what are we teaching our children? Ten years or more when our children and grandchildren ask us what happened in 2016, what will we say to them?  That we gave in to our fears, insecurities, prejudices, or we simply didn't know what we were doing?

My concern is for our children who are the future of the world. Are we teaching them that it's okay to insult others, disrespect women, disregard the law with impunity, show hate for those who don't look like us or who don't share our views and still ascend to the highest office in our land?

We need to do better. For the sake of our children and our world. We have to teach them that love and unity are what we need to build a stronger, more peaceful world. One where we treat others with respect and not view them with suspicion.Yes, we need to teach our children to be safe, but not to the extent of ostracizing others because of the color of their skin or where they may have come from.

Fortunately, there are many young people who are being brought up according to true Christian principles, not just loving those who look like them or who belong to their social circle, but who are following the teachings of Jesus -  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them" (Luke 6: 32).

Let's be Christlike in word and in deed.

----------------------------------------------------------------

This weekend you can pick up a copy of my book Coming Out of Egypt for FREE by going here  

-----------------------------------------
Are you trying to find that special someone? Click on the link below:

Happy Mother's Day

Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful day with your family and friends. Here's a little haiku I composed in honor of all mothers every where. Whether you are a stepmom, adoptive mom, mom-in-law, this poem is for you.

Your smile lights the room

Your touch heals the deepest wound

Your kiss dries my tears

Lenten Reflections cont'd

In my last post, I wrote about the opportunity we have to draw nearer to God during this Lenten season. If ever we needed God it is now. I believe it is no accident that Easter comes during the season of spring, at least in the northern hemisphere. Spring is a time of new beginnings, therefore what better time to begin a new life in Christ or recommit our lives to Him than during this Easter season.

Some questions we may reflect on are:

1. What does God require of me as a Christian?

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12: 30 - 31).

 2. How can I demonstrate God's love in my dealings with others?

Many of us will readily admit that we love the Lord, but how about our neighbor? When was the last time we spoke to them, smiled or offered to help them in some way? Other scriptures you may want to reflect on: Matthew 22: 37 - 39; Luke 10: 27; John 13: 34; 1 Corinthians 13 : 3. 

But love ye your enemies, and do good , and lend , hoping for nothing again ; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: (Luke 6: 35).

 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12: 20)
 
On the cross, Jesus forgave the Roman soldiers who crucified Him. He also forgave the thief who hung next to him.  

3. How can I fulfill the great commission?

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep" (John 21: 17). 

 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 14).

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28: 19).

Jesus's last command to us before leaving this earth was for us to go and make disciples of all nations. Not all of us will be able to travel extensively to spread the gospel like Paul and some of the other disciples did. In fact, we don't have to leave our little neck of the woods to tell others about Jesus Christ. We can begin right where we are.

Today marks the beginning of Holy week. As we pray and reflect this week, I trust that you will keep some of these questions in mind along with those the Holy Spirit lays on your heart. To help you in your reflections this Lenten season, I have written a little book that won an honorable mention on Writer's Digest. I trust that you will be blessed by it.





 

Valentine's Day Greetings

This weekend billions of dollars will be spent in purchasing cards, flowers, candy, perfume and all the usual things people use to express their love to their Valentine. And while giving these gifts, they will (hopefully) say all the right words. 

I think we would all agree that we don't need a special day to show our love to that special someone, but there's nothing wrong with celebrating your love along with the rest of the world. And you should do it in a way that means something to both of you.

Often when I read the book of John where Jesus was, in effect, saying good-bye to His disciples, tears come to my eyes. Jesus, the greatest Lover the world has ever known, poured His heart out to His Father on behalf of these men. They had been his companions for a short time, but they shared a closeness deeper than that which He shared with His own family. Let's look at some of His words:

"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours" (John 17: 9).

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name ... (v 11)

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—

I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory ... (v 20 - 24).

Aren't those the most beautiful and loving words coming from the lips of our Lord and Savior? He prayed that the Father would protect His disciples when He was no longer with them; that they would receive glory, that they would have unity and that in the end they would be with Him in heaven. But Jesus didn't pray just for them alone. He prayed for everyone who would receive His gospel message. What a loving Savior!

On this Valentine's Day, before you celebrate with your loved one, why not pray for and with him/her? Pour your heart out to the Lord as Jesus did for us and then you would be a true Valentine. God bless.

Here's something else you might like to give your valentine. Click here
I like to suggest things I think you may like. If you do purchase, I will receive something from it. Thanks! 

National Senior Citizens Day

If we look at some online calendars, we will see some special days mentioned other than the regular holidays that we are familiar with. I happened to stumble across this one while looking at one of these calendars, and I'm glad I did, for we live in a society where the elderly are not always shown the appreciation and given the care they deserve. We owe a lot to our elderly. Their wrinkles, gray hairs, work-worn hands and frail bodies reflect years of loving, caring and all the hard work they put in to build the solid foundation that we take for granted today.

Look at your own family history and you will recall stories of heroism and courage your ancestors displayed. Take time today to go through your keepsake boxes and family albums with pictures of your parents, grandparents and maybe great-grandparents. Then go a step further -- call or visit at least one of them. Depending on their health status, they may not recognize you, but that's okay. Just your words, your smile, the touch of your hand will bring comfort to that person, and God will bless you for doing it because He cares for the elderly.

He says, "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made , and I will bear ; even I will carry , and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46: 4).   

The psalmist prayed, "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth" (Psalm 71: 9) . 

In the Bible, not only did care for the elderly, but He used them to carry out His work. Noah was six hundred years when God called him to build the ark. Abraham was a hundred years old when his wife Sarah, ninety, gave birth to their son Isaac. You can read about them here. Anna, an elderly widow, and Simeon waited in the temple until they had seen the baby Messiah and pronounced a blessing on Him. And more can be said of Moses and Caleb and Israel and others. 

So today,  let us show appreciation to our senior citizens. Let us drink from their fountain of wisdom, let us treat them with gentleness and kindness and not abuse them or cast them aside, but cherish them as your Heavenly Father does.

A Story Of Two Guinea Pigs

Recently, I was given the awesome responsibility of taking care of my grandchildren's pets while the family was away. Since I love animals, I didn't mind looking after the two Guinea pigs and a very playful Lab.  Once Ziggy, the Lab, was fed and given a fresh bowl of water, he pretty much took care of himself. But Charlie and Arthur, the guinea pigs, caused me a bit of concern.

To begin with, once I'd removed the water bottle from where it hung at the side of the cage, I couldn't figure out how to replace it. I was later embarrassed when I saw how simple it was, but for the time I was there, I had to hold the bottle while Charlie drank and drank and drank. Whenever Arthur tried to get near the bottle, she (Charlie is a girl) pushed  him away with her mouth or with her butt. The same thing happened when he tried to get near the food. I began to worry that if Charlie kept that up, Arthur may soon be undernourished. Charlie used to be a very nice, docile pet, but since Arthur came, she has become selfish and aggressive.

Jayden and Jen with Charlie

Maybe that's the nature of guinea pigs, I don't know, but Charlie's behavior set me thinking about the way we humans treat each other. Are we kind and compassionate toward others? Do we willingly share what we have, or are we like Charlie, trying to grab all for ourselves, not caring about the other person? Let's examine our behavior in the home, the workplace and even in the church. If we find that we are anything like Charlie, let's ask God to give us a caring and sharing heart.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4 : 19). This is a verse we often quote, but when Paul spoke these words, he was referring to the gifts the Philippians had sent him, which he called " a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (v 18). 

When we give or do good to others, we make a fragrant offering that is pleasing to God. Think about it.

What Are Your Values?

 Everyone has values. A child may value his toys, a teenager his plug-ins, a woman her beauty, a man his

strength, physical or otherwise. As Christians, we are held to a higher standard than the rest of the world. Even when we are unaware, people are watching us. So what are those values, principles, teachings we should live by? I think there are three overriding principles that should guide us in living the Christian life.

1. Faith in God. The Bible says, "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11: 6). Therefore faith encompasses everything. Abraham showed faith when he followed God's command to take his son Isaac up to the mountain to sacrifice him. But an angel of the Lord restrained him and provided a lamb instead for the sacrifice. And God deemed him righteous because of his faith. Throughout the Bible there are stories of men and women who displayed great faith. In speaking of these men and women, the writer of Hebrews says, "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions" (11: 33).

2. Love. As we grow in Christ, we should pray that we learn to love others as He loved. In the sermon on the mount Jesus told His listeners, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5: 43 - 44). 

The apostle Paul explains it this way: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.   Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (1 Corinthians 13: 1 - 6). 
 Love encompasses everything.

3. Righteousness . Man is by nature unrighteous, corrupted by sin, but through God's love we are made righteous through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5: 20). The Pharisees were self-righteous; they obeyed the law rather than following the teachings of Christ. They were haughty, proud and boastful, believing that their works would get them into heaven. But Ephesians 2: 8 tells us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- "  

A new year is as good a time as any to reexamine our values. What are yours? Do you value things more than you value people, or the One who created all things? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you reevaluate yourself this year and show you the areas where you are lacking. Then surrender those areas to Him and watch Him make the necessary changes in you.  God bless.

Related articles

• Holier than thou!
• If Your New Year's Resolution Is to Live the Christian Life, Don't Bother

Memories Of My Father

Writing this blog post is not as easy as the one I wrote about my mother a few weeks ago,

reason being that my father passed away when I was just ten years of age, therefore my memories of him are vague. I can't remember his face, but I do remember him being a handsome man, who took great pride in his appearance. I remember him touching up the gray in his hairline and viewing himself in the mirror to make sure he looked impeccable. We had no photographs of him because back then photography was not a common thing, and Daddy did not like taking pictures.

 In addition to being employed in the oilfield, my father was the only shoemaker for miles around, and people came from everywhere to have shoes made or repaired. And he made shoes for me. I was the only little girl in our village who had a pair of shoes to match every dress. I still love shoes to this day.

I think my father enjoyed working in his workshop. We would hear him singing while he pounded his leather, or sewed on the machine, but whenever I went into his shop, he would have the newspaper waiting. He wasn't a storyteller like my mother, but he loved to read. He would point to an article and say, "Read that." After I'd read the article, he would have me spell some words. To this day, I remember his favorite word was "circumstances." By the time I was eight, I could spell that and many other "big words."

I loved going out with my father. He took me to church and other places. I don't remember him having a lot of friends, though. His work, his shoemaking business and his family consumed his life. Then one Sunday morning - I remember it well - my mother woke me to tell me that Daddy had died. I ran into their bedroom and saw  my father stretched out on the bed, eyes closed, looking very much like he was sleeping.

Dead? I threw my arms around his neck. His body was still warm. He couldn't be dead. People were coming to the house and saying things to my mother and to me, but I didn't listen to them. How could Daddy be dead? He'd worked in his shop during the day, and in our little store the night before until late. I had stayed with him, while my mother baked bread and did the other things she usually did on Saturday nights. An intoxicated man had come to the store, acting silly, and my father had escorted him to the road and told him not to come back. Daddy knew how to handle unruly people.

 Even though I am now much older, there are times when I wish I still had my parents, to drink from their fountain of wisdom and love. Still, I thank God for the sweet memories I have of my father, and even though he was with me for such a short time, he helped to shape the person I am today.  I believe I acquired my love for reading and my spelling ability from those times when Daddy had me read and spell words from the newspaper.

 Meanwhile, I have my Heavenly Father watching over me and providing me with all the shoes and whatever else I need. For those of you who still have your dad, thank God for him everyday, and let him know how much you love him. If you don't have a relationship with your father, you can still pray that God will bring you two together, because God does not like division.


God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. Psalm 68: 6

My prayer for you this Father's Day is that you will enjoy a wonderful day with your earthly father, if you have one, as well as with your Heavenly Father.

Related articles

• Yet, I will rejoice! (Hope for the Fatherless)
• "The Treasure of a Great Dad"
• Happy Fathers Day 2014

Can You Love Your Enemies?

protesters and punks (Photo credit: danoxster)

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his followers principles they had never heard before, and some of which they found difficult to understand. They had been taught, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot," (Exodus 21: 24), and now here was this young Rabbi telling them,  "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"( Matthew 5 : 43 - 44).

Jesus' teachings are what set Christianity apart from other religions - teachings of humility, generosity, forgiveness and yes, loving our enemies. We live in a world where people still look to get even with someone who has wronged them, or worse yet, seek revenge. Can you love your enemies? 

Jesus told a parable of the Samaritan who saw a man who had been robbed and beaten 
lying on the roadside. A priest and a Levite passed by, looked at the man and went their way, but the Samaritan stopped, put him on his animal and took him to an inn where he paid for the man's care. The passage doesn't say what ethnicity the victim was, but I believe the reason Jesus pointed out that it was a Samaritan who took care of the man is because Samaritans and Jews did not speak to each other. Jesus wanted to show that the Samaritan went out of his way to help someone who was not his friend.

Jesus exemplified His own teaching when He cried out on the cross, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23: 34). Forgive them? Jesus could have called ten thousand angels and they would have smitten His enemies and set Him free, but He didn't.

Do you have an enemy or enemies who are making your life miserable? You have to love them. Not because you want to, but because Jesus says you must. Have you considered that that person who behaves in such a hateful manner toward you is probably hurting inside and in desperate need of a friend? 

When I was a child we lived next door to a couple who never spoke to us, or anyone in the neighborhood. The husband would wave sometimes when he saw us, but the wife always looked away whenever our eyes met. Sometimes my mother would call to her, but she never responded. One day, my mother decided this had gone on long enough. I don't recall exactly what she did to break the ice, but that lady and my mother became great friends. Not only did she become friends with us, but my mother introduced her to the other neighbors, and they too became friends. 

Now that I think about it, that couple probably felt isolated because they were from a different country. Sometimes what may appear to be unfriendliness in someone may really be insecurity or nervousness. If you have an enemy or someone who seems unfriendly,
 ask God to give you the courage to reach out to this person. When you show love, you are exhibiting one of the graces of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He is with you, and will help you.

Related articles

• Truly *Love* Our Enemies
• Your Enemies Are Worthy of Your Love - Deal With It!
• Love Your Enemies

How Do We Love?

Love ? I love love love you. (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

Valentine's Day has just passed, and many of us may still be basking in the afterglow of  time spent with that special person. Since I didn't post anything on Valentine's Day, I thought I would repost this article which I did last year. After all, love is timeless, isn't it?

The words of a song of yesteryear go like this: What the world needs now
Is love, sweet love, It's the only thing that there's just too little of
Remember that one? Do you agree that what the world needs now is love? That there isn't enough to go around?

From events taking place around us everyday it would certainly seem that way. So, if you agree there isn't enough love in the world, why don't you begin to share some? No, I'm not talking about man/woman love - not yet. I'm talking about brotherly love. Love for all mankind. Love for the people you know and the people you don't know. Love for the people who look, talk and act like you do and those who don't. The kind of love that Jesus exemplified. Giving love. Forgiving love. Helping love. Praying love. Saving love. Healing love.

We may not be able to do the last two. Only Jesus can save, but we can lead someone to Him. Only Jesus can heal, but we can pray that He will heal them. The clue is to do what we can. No one spoke more and did more in the name of love than Jesus did. He left the splendor of His heavenly home and came down to earth where He suffered hunger, thirst, pain and death. All in the name of love. And He commanded us, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22 : 37 - 39).

Simple, isn't it? But how close do we come to keeping that commandment? Do we love God the way we ought? Do we love our neighbors as ourselves? This month let us reflect on what it really means to love. If we find that we don't measure up, let us go to the Greatest Lover of all and ask Him to teach us how to love as He did.

Related articles

• Jesus Summed Up the Ten Commandments into Only 2
• The Love of our Father in Heaven
• You Are Loved

Are You A Christian?

This question was asked on my recent visit to Turkey as we boarded the bus headed for Ephesus. The one asking the question was our Turkish guide. My friend and I quickly put our hands up, but some people appeared to hesitate, which prompted the man to ask, "Well, are you, or aren't you?"

I looked around and there were no more hands.

How do you answer this question? If you ever took a vow of Christianity, you would answer 'yes', but what does it really mean to be a Christian? A Christian, quite simply, is a follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore if you are following Him, you would do the things He did.

This morning when I awoke, the first thought that popped into my head was the division that exists in the Christian church here in America. Someone said, "The most segregated time in America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning." Sad, but true. But we are not just divided on Sunday mornings, we are also divided in our thoughts and attitude toward certain issues. The recent Trayvon Martin debacle is a case in point.

As Christians we can no longer see people and issues through a black lens or a white lens, relegated to this corner or that corner. We must see ourselves as belonging to the elite family of God and therefore what affects one member affects us all. When Jesus walked this earth, He went out of His way to show that racial division is wrong. Read the stories of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10 : 30 - 35) and the woman at the well (John 4 : 4 - 27).

Jesus is coming soon for His church, all the signs point to that, and we need to get ready. What the church needs to be ready is not more buildings or even more money, but for "the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost" (Romans 5 : 5) to so permeate our beings that we cannot help but love everyone the way He loves us. Are you a Christian?

What Does The Ideal Father Look Like?

I once heard a man say that people make far more fuss over Mother's Day than they do Father's Day. Well, according to statistics, Father's Day spending seems to be on the heels of Mother's Day figures by around five billion dollars. And Dad is not just getting neckties and socks anymore. He is getting high end products like ipads, cell phones and golf clubs.

That is all very good, but what do we want from Dad? When I listen to a lot of men speak, they don't seem to have had much of a relationship with their fathers. And that's a shame, because fathers are, or ought to be, the backbone of the home - the one who keeps it from falling apart. It is no secret that children from homes where the father is absent, physically or emotionally, are more likely to drop out of school and/or end up in jail or on the streets. Sadly, a disproportionate number of African American homes fall into this category.

So what does the ideal father do to keep his home strong and stable? As always, the answers are in the Bible. The ideal father:

1. Builds his house upon the rock. Jesus said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock" (Matthew 7: 24 - 25).

What was Jesus referring to? He was referring to the storms of life that we all inevitably experience. The father who builds his house on the foundation of God's word does not have to fear the storms. His house will remain strong, no matter how much the storms rage.

2. Demonstrates love. Not just to his kids, but to those around him. He treats his wife like a queen; he does not abuse her or speak harshly to her, but loves her "as Christ loves the church." When his sons see that, they will follow his example. The ideal father demonstrates love to his children by the way he disciplines them - with love. The Bible says, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath : but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6 : 4).

3. Gives. The ideal father gives to his family, his community and his church. He is not mean or stingy, but gives liberally of all that he has. He works hard to provide well for his family, but he also gives of his time. No amount of toys or gifts can replace the time a man spends with his family. The father who takes his sons fishing, his wife and/or daughters to the mall (yes, to the mall) or just hangs out with them on a weekend is more appreciated than the one who lavishes them with expensive gifts and then disappears until Sunday night. 

Being a father is no easy task, neither is it to be taken for granted. In order to be a good father a man needs to be equipped. There is only one training manual for that - the word of God. Fathers, read it daily. Feast on it day and night. Pray to God; He is the only ideal Father, but if you ask Him, He will give you the wisdom and strength to fulfill this exciting role. Call on Him today. Happy Father's Day! 

5 Things To Look For In Mr. Right

 

Last week, we focused on qualities that a man would look for in a woman, and we looked at Ruth, a woman who got her man by exemplifying those qualities. Today, in keeping with the theme of love for this month, I want to look at qualities a woman would look for in a man. 

The Bible highlights many mighty men of God who were good husbands and fathers, but nowhere do we get a love story as intense or as fraught with difficulties as the one between Jacob and Rachel. And for that reason I chose Jacob. Yes, I know, his very name means 'trickster', but as we read in the book of Genesis, Jacob proved to be not just a good husband but a man who walked with God.

1.  A man of God. Jacob leaves home as his mother advised him, fearing that his brother Esau would kill him for stealing his birthright. On the first night of his journey, God appears to Jacob in a dream and promises to bless him and his seed. Jacob wakes up the next morning and consecrates that place to God. Later on, we'll see God's guidance and blessings following Jacob throughout his life.

2. A loving man. The next thing he does is kiss Rachel. I don't think this was a romantic kiss. The men of the town had told him that she is the daughter of his uncle, Laban, whom he's come looking for. The Bible says, "And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.  And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son:" (Genesis 29 : 11 - 12). It could be that Jacob is overcome with emotion at finding his cousin.

3. A hard-working man. Women love a man who is responsible and hard-working. Jacob certainly proves that when he says to Laban, "I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter" ( v 18). The Bible goes on to say, "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her" (v 20). When a man truly loves a woman nothing is too much for him to do for her. Jacob is not only hard-working, he is shrewd. When Laban tries to rob him of his wages, Jacob manipulates the livestock, causing him to own more than Laban and increase in wealth.

4. A faithful man. Jacob is faithful to Rachel even though he has children by three other women. This has to be looked at in the cultural norms of the time. It was common for a barren woman to give her maid to her husband in order to have children. Laban tricks Jacob by giving him Leah, his older daughter, instead of Rachel, on his wedding night. This starts a long, agonizing chain of events which Jacob seems unable to break out of.  

5. A committed man.  Eventually Jacob takes his wives and children and leaves Laban's home for good. However, he remains committed to Rachel and Joseph, the son she bore him. When he hears that his brother Esau is coming to meet him, Jacob thinks Esau is about to wreak vengeance on him for stealing his birthright. As Esau and his entourage draw near, Jacob puts Rachel and Joseph at the back of the other wives to spare them from being hurt. 

Ladies, your Mr. Right may not possess all the above qualities, but he should at least demonstrate the first and the last. Without those two, your relationship may be on rocky ground. If you are looking for Mr. Right, ask God to lead you to him.

5 Love Lessons From The Book Of Ruth

With Valentine's Day just a few days away, many hearts are turning to love. For those of us who already have a mate, we may be thinking of ways to make the day a special one. For those women who have not yet found your  Mr. Right, you may be hoping that this Valentine's Day will bring you the man of your dreams. Whatever your situation, or season of life, why not look to the greatest love manual, God's Word, and see what tips you can pick up?

I love the book of Ruth, because here we meet a woman who has spanned a few seasons of life and returns to one she has already passed. She has been married, widowed and marries again in this book. We don't know what her first marriage was like, but it lasted ten years until her husband died.

So what lessons can we learn from the book of Ruth to help us snag (or keep) Mr. Right?

1. Faithfulness - After her husband's death, Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law suggests to Ruth and Orpah, her other daughter-in-law to return to their families and try to build a life for themselves. Orpah follows her advice, but Ruth decides to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, even though she is not Jewish as Naomi is. Listen to what Ruth says:

  Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest , I will go ; and where thou lodgest , I will lodge : thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: (Ruth 1 : 16).

That's the stuff of which faithfulness is made - something every man looks for in a woman, and something which should come easily to you as a woman of God. Even if you are single, but are serious about the man you are dating, you should demonstrate faithfulness in your relationship with him.

2. Selflessness - This is one of the qualities that attracted Ruth to Boaz. And he let her know. 

 It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: (2: 11).

Your husband or future husband is watching the way you treat other people. Are you helpful? Kind? Caring? Do you put the needs of others before your own? The way you treat others will determine how you will treat him.

3. Hard working - No sooner had she and Naomi settled in Bethlehem, Ruth went out and found work gleaning in the corn fields. It just happened that she ended up in the field belonging to Boaz, who immediately noticed her. When he inquired who she was, one of the servants said, 

And she said , I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came , and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house ( v 7).  

Let's face it, girls, unless you marry a millionaire, you will be expected to contribute to the upkeep of the home - either through your job, or by staying home and cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids. No man wants a woman who just wants to sit around polishing her nails and watching television all day. Be prepared to carry your share.

4. Obedience - I know, most people don't like this word. They think it means subservience, performing beneath your standard. But it doesn't. Ruth's obedience to Naomi helped her earn food for them both and put her in the path of Boaz, who later became her husband. 

 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law ( v 22).

5. Good grooming - Naomi instructed Ruth: Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: 

Naomi knew what every woman should know, that  if you are trying to impress a man, or keep him interested, you need to put your best face forward. No matter how busy you are with the house, kids or your job, you must make time every now and then for yourself - a tub soak, mani, pedi, a little make up would do wonders to help you catch and keep that man. 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

For the month of February I'm offering free shipping for my book Women For All Seasons, where you can learn more about Ruth. Drop me a line in the comment box and I'll tell you how you can obtain your copy. 

 

Do You Know The Lord?

I wanted to touch on something from my last post about the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. When Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh to tell them what the Lord had said, Pharaoh replied, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go" (Exodus 5: 2 KJV).

Those words are significant. I know not the Lord. Do you know the Lord? Here are some ways you can tell if you know the Lord.

1. You listen and obey His voice. You might say you do not hear God's voice. God may not speak to you audibly the way He spoke to Moses, but He may speak to you in so many other ways: through His word, through another person, through a sermon or even through an incident. Moses first saw a burning bush before he heard the voice of the Lord.

2. You fear the Lord. Some say we should not fear God because God is love, and since He loves us we have nothing to fear. Proverbs 1 : 7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" People who know the Lord fear His punishment, His judgement, His wrath. Most of all they fear being separated from Him as a result of sin. Jesus said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10: 28 KJV).

3. You love the Lord. To know the Lord is to love Him with an all-encompassing love. A love that goes beyond anything you can feel for your spouse, parents or even your children. It is a love that makes you almost impatient to be with Him. Paul said, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart , and to be with Christ; which is far better" (Philippians 1: 23 KJV).

4. You trust the Lord. Moses and other great men and women of the Bible knew the Lord and trusted in His goodness. He is the God who says, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Psalms 50: 15 KJV). It is what made Paul say, "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver : in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1 : 10 KJV). And when the children of Israel grumbled against Moses he was able to say with confidence, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD" (Exodus 14: 13).

Pharaoh was right. He did not know the Lord, therefore he did not listen, he did not fear, he did not love and he did not trust the Lord. He didn't know there was a King far greater than he who would defend the Israelites and give them the victory. Do you know the Lord? If you do, fine. If you are not sure, examine yourself in light of the above. If you don't know Him, ask Him to come into your heart today. He will teach you everything you need to know.