Dec 26, 2005
Well, I do hope you had a very Merry Christmas and can now bring yourself to the computer to
read this blog. My Christmas was okay, if you consider a houseful of people-about ten in all, including grand-children ranging in ages from seven to eighteen months. But I loved it, although now I’m dog tired. But now that Christmas is over we can reflect on the blessings, disappointments, joys, sorrows of 2005.
Uppermost in most people’s minds I’m sure would be the battering of storms we had this year. For us in Florida it seemed like there was hardly a let up once the season got underway. And for the people of New Orleans, not used to the unusual temperaments of Mother Nature, this year must have been a real shocker. London and Spain had their share of terrorist bombings, and Israelis saw themselves giving up their much cherished land for the sake of peace.
However, peace, in Israel and elsewhere, remains an elusive dream. I asked some of my patients-about fifteen of them- to arrange a list of goals, including world peace, on a scale of 1-10. Amazingly, not one of them assigned peace to the top five. When I asked them why, they all said it’s not attainable.
Their response filled me with sadness. To think that we have grown so cynical that we no longer expect to live in a peaceful world. But this is what makes Christmas so special, so unique. Because it celebrates the birth of One who came to the world that we might have peace. When the angels announced Jesus’ birth they said, "Peace on earth to men of goodwill", and just before He left this earth He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ..." (John 14:27).
However as I write this men are fighting in Iraq and other parts of the world. Peace on earth? What peace, you ask. It’s the peace that fills your hearts and minds when you embrace Jesus as your Lord and Savior. When you do that, it doesn’t matter whether shells are falling all around you, you will be like the little bird I saw in a picture, sound asleep on the tip of a branch in the midst of a raging storm! That is the peace that passes all understanding.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
The Reason for the Season
Well, the Christmas season is upon us, and even though I promised myself I would not get caught up in the shopping frenzy, the cleaning and decorating frenzy and the cooking frenzy, I am, because I have relatives coming over from this weekend. And I never seem to have enough time or money to do everything that I would like to do. However, in the midst of all the frenzy, I managed to pause for a moment and consider my pastor’s words from last Sunday’s sermon.
He said that corporate is pushing God out of all of its affairs, and it will reach the point where our very freedom to worship may be threatened.
Frightening, but very probable. When you consider that prayer is no longer allowed in schools, a judge was fired for posting the Ten Commandments in his courtroom, and everywhere you look amidst all the glittering public decorations nothing is mentioned about Jesus Christ, then what he said is a distinct probability. In what other part of the world would someone come up with the idea of calling a Christmas tree a holiday tree? But here in a country that boasts of having been founded under godly principles, our creativity knows no bounds. Celebrating Christmas without mentioning Jesus is like coming to my birthday party and bringing a gift for someone else. That would be a gross insult, wouldn’t it? But that is exactly what we are doing here in America.
In my workplace there is a banner that reads Happy Hanukkah, and lots of pictures of Santa Claus and his reindeer, but nothing about Christmas. Well, I came up with the idea of putting up a little nativity scene with Merry Christmas written over it in my area. I encourage you to do the same, if you can. If you cannot put something up, how about putting something on- a T shirt, pin or some other emblem that would show that you’re celebrating the birth of Jesus. After all, He is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas!
He said that corporate is pushing God out of all of its affairs, and it will reach the point where our very freedom to worship may be threatened.
Frightening, but very probable. When you consider that prayer is no longer allowed in schools, a judge was fired for posting the Ten Commandments in his courtroom, and everywhere you look amidst all the glittering public decorations nothing is mentioned about Jesus Christ, then what he said is a distinct probability. In what other part of the world would someone come up with the idea of calling a Christmas tree a holiday tree? But here in a country that boasts of having been founded under godly principles, our creativity knows no bounds. Celebrating Christmas without mentioning Jesus is like coming to my birthday party and bringing a gift for someone else. That would be a gross insult, wouldn’t it? But that is exactly what we are doing here in America.
In my workplace there is a banner that reads Happy Hanukkah, and lots of pictures of Santa Claus and his reindeer, but nothing about Christmas. Well, I came up with the idea of putting up a little nativity scene with Merry Christmas written over it in my area. I encourage you to do the same, if you can. If you cannot put something up, how about putting something on- a T shirt, pin or some other emblem that would show that you’re celebrating the birth of Jesus. After all, He is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas!
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving
Well, hello there. Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving and didn’t eat too much. Remember Christmas is less than a month away. I didn’t post this earlier because I worked on Thanksgiving Day, (got my turkey on work, too) and then came home early.
Well, what do I have to be thankful for? For life, health, friends, family, a home (still standing post Wilma) but most of all for the Holy spirit who checks me when I’m tempted to complain. I wanted to post a blog about the injustices we’re suffering here in South Florida after the hurricane, but He reminded me that the people of New Orleans suffered many times more than we did. Many of them probably could not get together with friends and family on Thanksgiving Day, or go to the mall (what’s that?) the next day.
So we’re blessed, I’m blessed, my family is blessed, my friends are blessed, the only that really suffers is the poor ol’ turkey.
God bless
Well, what do I have to be thankful for? For life, health, friends, family, a home (still standing post Wilma) but most of all for the Holy spirit who checks me when I’m tempted to complain. I wanted to post a blog about the injustices we’re suffering here in South Florida after the hurricane, but He reminded me that the people of New Orleans suffered many times more than we did. Many of them probably could not get together with friends and family on Thanksgiving Day, or go to the mall (what’s that?) the next day.
So we’re blessed, I’m blessed, my family is blessed, my friends are blessed, the only that really suffers is the poor ol’ turkey.
God bless
Monday, October 31, 2005
Wilma's Blessings
It seems like anything I write these days it has to do with hurricanes. Today is one week since Wilma pounded South Florida and for many of us the road to recovery is a slow and painful one. Some of us, like my family and I, have been a little more fortunate than others. We hooted for joy when our lights returned on Saturday. Those yellow orbs never looked more beautiful. To be able to take a hot shower again, and use the microwave and the dishwasher again, and for me to be able to write again. It almost brings tears to my eyes.
We in South Florida had never experienced such widespread damage. Andrew back in 1993, was bad. Many people lost their lives and their homes, but it was just in one area. This time Wilma made sure she touched everyone. So now we’re still trying to cope with limited services that we once took for granted-like the supermarkets, banks, not to mention electricity and gas. But we have a lot to be thankful for.
There is a lot of sharing and generosity not usually seen here. Our neighbor went out of town the day after the storm and left us with his generator, so we were able to plug in the fridge and other small appliances. Someone brought me ice and water, which I shared with a lady from my church who lives alone. People, for the most part, are more courteous on the roads since most of the traffic lights are out.
Also, many people are talking about God. This morning I heard a gentleman on a call-in radio program say that Wilma was a reminder to us that God is in charge. That our plans, our todays, our tomorrows are all in His hands and we need to acknowledge. And he was readily backed up by the radio host. Yes, we may not have all the food we need, we have to stand in long lines for supplies, but the majority of us survived, so while we still have today, let’s place it in God’s hands.
We in South Florida had never experienced such widespread damage. Andrew back in 1993, was bad. Many people lost their lives and their homes, but it was just in one area. This time Wilma made sure she touched everyone. So now we’re still trying to cope with limited services that we once took for granted-like the supermarkets, banks, not to mention electricity and gas. But we have a lot to be thankful for.
There is a lot of sharing and generosity not usually seen here. Our neighbor went out of town the day after the storm and left us with his generator, so we were able to plug in the fridge and other small appliances. Someone brought me ice and water, which I shared with a lady from my church who lives alone. People, for the most part, are more courteous on the roads since most of the traffic lights are out.
Also, many people are talking about God. This morning I heard a gentleman on a call-in radio program say that Wilma was a reminder to us that God is in charge. That our plans, our todays, our tomorrows are all in His hands and we need to acknowledge. And he was readily backed up by the radio host. Yes, we may not have all the food we need, we have to stand in long lines for supplies, but the majority of us survived, so while we still have today, let’s place it in God’s hands.
Friday, September 23, 2005
KEEPING UP
Once again I’ve found myself lagging with this blog, but I’ve been keeping up with pretty much everything else. I’m walking indoors to a videotape, I’ve begun a twenty-one-day meatless fast, and that’s going pretty well, and I’ve been keeping up with my writing groups. My weakness lies in submitting to the different markets. One reason is, let’s face it, I hate REJECTION! But I also know if I don’t submit I can’t get accepted, right? So this week I’m focusing on SUBMISSIONS! How many did I do? Two-one to a contest, one to a devotional mag. For me that’s very good, but I want to be excellent. So next week I’ll submit three. How about that?
On a somber note, once again we’re bracing for another hurricane. Hurricane Rita. In New Orleans the streets are now beginning to dry, dead bodies are still around and people are still in a state of shock. People who had been evacuated to nearby Texas are now running from Texas. The Bible says in the last days men will run to and fro, their hearts failing them for fear. We cannot run from God and His wrath, the answer is to run to him. Won’t you run to Him today?
On a somber note, once again we’re bracing for another hurricane. Hurricane Rita. In New Orleans the streets are now beginning to dry, dead bodies are still around and people are still in a state of shock. People who had been evacuated to nearby Texas are now running from Texas. The Bible says in the last days men will run to and fro, their hearts failing them for fear. We cannot run from God and His wrath, the answer is to run to him. Won’t you run to Him today?
Monday, September 05, 2005
A Thief in the Night?
I think you would have to live on Mars to not hear about the devastating impact of hurricane Katrina. It has been called the most expensive hurricane in US history. The stories of widespread death and destruction would make enough reels to keep movie directors busy. And we in Florida thought Andrew was bad.
However, what boggles my mind is the fact that there was little or no warning, little time to prepare. I left for work that morning paying scant attention to the news. After all, it was just a tropical storm, right? But by the time I was ready to leave work that evening the clouds had darkened, rain poured from the heavens and palm trees bent almost to the ground by the fury of Katrina. I tried to make it out the door, but her ferocious, unseen hands literally pushed me back in. Fortunately, I work in a hospital that had already activated its emergency plan, and employees were accommodated for the night.
As I lay on the small hospital bed, I reflected on what the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 "... that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Here in Florida we were unprepared, and judging from the extent of the destruction in Louisiana, New Orleans and Biloxi, the people there were unprepared as well. So it was in Noah’s day. The people made fun of Noah when he told them a flood was coming. By the time they got to the ark God had already closed the doors.
Friends, let’s prepare now to meet the Lord while there is still time. You don’t want the doors of heaven to be closed against you.
However, what boggles my mind is the fact that there was little or no warning, little time to prepare. I left for work that morning paying scant attention to the news. After all, it was just a tropical storm, right? But by the time I was ready to leave work that evening the clouds had darkened, rain poured from the heavens and palm trees bent almost to the ground by the fury of Katrina. I tried to make it out the door, but her ferocious, unseen hands literally pushed me back in. Fortunately, I work in a hospital that had already activated its emergency plan, and employees were accommodated for the night.
As I lay on the small hospital bed, I reflected on what the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 "... that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Here in Florida we were unprepared, and judging from the extent of the destruction in Louisiana, New Orleans and Biloxi, the people there were unprepared as well. So it was in Noah’s day. The people made fun of Noah when he told them a flood was coming. By the time they got to the ark God had already closed the doors.
Friends, let’s prepare now to meet the Lord while there is still time. You don’t want the doors of heaven to be closed against you.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Get anchored
Well, I’ve just returned from a fabulous cruise to the Caribbean. Seven glorious days on sea and land with some of my best friends and church family. It couldn’t get any better. So now I’m back at the keyboard trying to make good on the promise I made to you and myself last week. As far as my exercise goes, I got more than enough on the cruise. I walked miles both on the ship and when we went ashore, and I also took advantage of the state-of- the-art gym, sauna and spa on board ship, so by the time we set sail for home my clothes felt roomier, and I looked and felt better. How about that? So now I’m back and catching up on some much needed sleep. You know no one sleeps on a cruise.
But anyway, this week I want to comment on a book I just finished reading. It’s The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and it tells of the life of Esther Greenwood, a young student fashion writer, whose troubled life closely resembled Sylvia’s. In the book she says, "I’ve tried to picture my world and the people in it as seen through the distorting lens of a bell jar." The book itself ends on a hopeful note, but as some of you may know, Sylvia Plath committed suicide. Her mother said that Sylvia was overwhelmed by trying to keep up with her writing and with the demands of her domestic life.
The idea of someone at the pinnacle of her success ending her life seems unthinkable, but it happens all too often. This is why I cannot overemphasize the importance of being anchored to God. It is He who gives us the strength to live from day to day. It is He who helps us to stay on the surface when the currents of life threaten to pull us under. Please, give your life to Him today, and watch Him take over.
But anyway, this week I want to comment on a book I just finished reading. It’s The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and it tells of the life of Esther Greenwood, a young student fashion writer, whose troubled life closely resembled Sylvia’s. In the book she says, "I’ve tried to picture my world and the people in it as seen through the distorting lens of a bell jar." The book itself ends on a hopeful note, but as some of you may know, Sylvia Plath committed suicide. Her mother said that Sylvia was overwhelmed by trying to keep up with her writing and with the demands of her domestic life.
The idea of someone at the pinnacle of her success ending her life seems unthinkable, but it happens all too often. This is why I cannot overemphasize the importance of being anchored to God. It is He who gives us the strength to live from day to day. It is He who helps us to stay on the surface when the currents of life threaten to pull us under. Please, give your life to Him today, and watch Him take over.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Discipline
This week I received some inspiration from a photo of an 83- year-old woman who looks about half her age. I made a copy of her picture and circulated it among my colleagues, telling them that was me. Not one of them said, "You look great", or something to that effect. Instead, one asked, "That’s you?" Another asked, "When did you take this?" They were letting me know-quite nicely- that I didn’t look anything like the woman in the picture. So eventually I told them, "That’s me in a few months."
Now it takes discipline to achieve that kind of appearance. Discipline to get up early in the morning and exercise, discipline to pass up a second helping of that pie or that ice-cream. In the same way it takes discipline to pray, study the Word or write this blog. Acquiring this discipline comes from God. He can help you get where you want to go, be what you want to be, do what you want to do.
I have to admit I’m not there yet, although I’m trying and I’m praying. I remember when I first started walking, I felt like I was ploughing through ankle-deep mud. I struggled to walk one mile those first few weeks. Then I struggled to walk three days a week, but gradually I worked up to one and a quarter mile, then one and a half and this past week I walked two miles two days and exercised two days. Excuse me while I pat myself on the back..
However, my goal is to exercise at least four days a week. To achieve this, I’ve worked out a plan. If I wake up too late to go walking, I put on my video and do a thirty minute workout, or if I feel like doing neither I’ll do some stretching or weight lifting exercises. They are great for toning and limbering up the body. So pretty soon, I’ll be looking like that 83-year-old woman.
My next test of discipline has to do with my writing. I haven’t been exactly consistent in writing this blog. So I’m going to work on that, plus write at least one page of my new book In the Promised Land each day, submit an article every week and keep on submitting and tweaking Coming out of Egypt until I get it published. With a full time job and a home to look after, this could be a daunting prospect, but "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13.
Next week I’ll let you know whether I’m succeeding or not.
Now it takes discipline to achieve that kind of appearance. Discipline to get up early in the morning and exercise, discipline to pass up a second helping of that pie or that ice-cream. In the same way it takes discipline to pray, study the Word or write this blog. Acquiring this discipline comes from God. He can help you get where you want to go, be what you want to be, do what you want to do.
I have to admit I’m not there yet, although I’m trying and I’m praying. I remember when I first started walking, I felt like I was ploughing through ankle-deep mud. I struggled to walk one mile those first few weeks. Then I struggled to walk three days a week, but gradually I worked up to one and a quarter mile, then one and a half and this past week I walked two miles two days and exercised two days. Excuse me while I pat myself on the back..
However, my goal is to exercise at least four days a week. To achieve this, I’ve worked out a plan. If I wake up too late to go walking, I put on my video and do a thirty minute workout, or if I feel like doing neither I’ll do some stretching or weight lifting exercises. They are great for toning and limbering up the body. So pretty soon, I’ll be looking like that 83-year-old woman.
My next test of discipline has to do with my writing. I haven’t been exactly consistent in writing this blog. So I’m going to work on that, plus write at least one page of my new book In the Promised Land each day, submit an article every week and keep on submitting and tweaking Coming out of Egypt until I get it published. With a full time job and a home to look after, this could be a daunting prospect, but "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13.
Next week I’ll let you know whether I’m succeeding or not.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Happy Fourth of July
I finally got my Bravenet code pasted in to my blog, but guess what, the original had disappeared, the one about fathers, so you may be seeing two of the same with different titles! Let’s you know I’m not yet savvy about this whole blogging business. But I like it. I mean where else can you write about a whole spectrum of topics, from making afghans to politics?
So Happy Fourth, everybody. I trust that while you’re having your second helping of apple pie you stop to reflect on what Independence means to you and to America. What does Independence truly mean? Does it only mean having the ability to govern ourselves? Free from outside control, as the Oxford dictionary tells us? Or does it mean not depending on anyone? America is known as the Land of the free and the home of the brave. But lately we have to ask ourselves who are the free and who are the brave?
When a judge in Alabama loses his job as a result of fighting to keep the Ten Commandments in the courthouse, where is the freedom? When people can get into trouble for giving out tracts or Bibles near a school, where is the freedom? The drug dealers have easier access to the children than we do. When Christian teachers have to refrain from telling their pupils about God for fear of losing their jobs, where is the freedom?
Freedom may be limited, but bravery abounds. We have to be brave to walk the streets at nights, brave to send our children to school, brave to mention the name of Jesus in public. When over thirty six million people live in poverty in this, the richest country on earth, where is the independence? When children are the largest growing number of the nation’s poor, where is the independence? When words like outsourcing and downsizing are common everyday terms, where’s the independence?
I hate to spoil your celebrations, but we need to examine ourselves. The laws of this country were based on the laws of God. We must obey them. In the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 4 verses 5-6 Moses told the children of Israel: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgements, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."
Can other nations now look at us and say we are a wise and understanding people? Hey, go easy on that apple pie. But that’s for another blog.
So Happy Fourth, everybody. I trust that while you’re having your second helping of apple pie you stop to reflect on what Independence means to you and to America. What does Independence truly mean? Does it only mean having the ability to govern ourselves? Free from outside control, as the Oxford dictionary tells us? Or does it mean not depending on anyone? America is known as the Land of the free and the home of the brave. But lately we have to ask ourselves who are the free and who are the brave?
When a judge in Alabama loses his job as a result of fighting to keep the Ten Commandments in the courthouse, where is the freedom? When people can get into trouble for giving out tracts or Bibles near a school, where is the freedom? The drug dealers have easier access to the children than we do. When Christian teachers have to refrain from telling their pupils about God for fear of losing their jobs, where is the freedom?
Freedom may be limited, but bravery abounds. We have to be brave to walk the streets at nights, brave to send our children to school, brave to mention the name of Jesus in public. When over thirty six million people live in poverty in this, the richest country on earth, where is the independence? When children are the largest growing number of the nation’s poor, where is the independence? When words like outsourcing and downsizing are common everyday terms, where’s the independence?
I hate to spoil your celebrations, but we need to examine ourselves. The laws of this country were based on the laws of God. We must obey them. In the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 4 verses 5-6 Moses told the children of Israel: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgements, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."
Can other nations now look at us and say we are a wise and understanding people? Hey, go easy on that apple pie. But that’s for another blog.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Fathers In Action
I trust that all you fathers had a wonderful Father’s day with your loved ones. For the past few weeks I have been writing about mothers of the Bible, so now with Fathers’ day behind us, I think it would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention something about fathers and their place in our lives.
Fathers are tough, or most of them are, but they, too, need the guidance and strength that can come only from their Heavenly Father. A father who thinks he is too much of a man to pray or go to church is depriving himself -and his family- of one of the greatest benefits, which is, godly counsel. In Psalm 63:1, David said, " ... early will I seek thee: my soul longeth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"
David knew the benefits of seeking God’s face regularly not only for counsel, but for comfort. Because even big, rugged men need to be comforted. When the storms of life come against you, as they did for David many times, you need comfort. You may try to mask your feelings with a macho outlook, but inside you hurt just as women do.
Abraham, called by God to be the "father of many nations", also knew the benefits of staying close to God. So much so, that he was called a "friend" of God. And the Lord said, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; ..."( Genesis 18:19).
Such was the confidence that God had in Abraham. And He can have that same confidence in fathers of today if they would seek His face the way Abraham did. But not only did Abraham seek God, he obeyed him in everything, even to the point of taking his only son Isaac to sacrifice him, as the Lord had commanded.
Our society today is in dire need of godly fathers. In many homes the fathers are missing, and in some they are missing in action. Many juvenile offenders come from homes like these. What type of father are you? Are you missing or missing in action? Ask God to bring you back so you can fulfill your divine destiny as the head of the home. If every father would begin to do this we will see a turnaround in our nation and in the world. How about it?
Fathers are tough, or most of them are, but they, too, need the guidance and strength that can come only from their Heavenly Father. A father who thinks he is too much of a man to pray or go to church is depriving himself -and his family- of one of the greatest benefits, which is, godly counsel. In Psalm 63:1, David said, " ... early will I seek thee: my soul longeth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"
David knew the benefits of seeking God’s face regularly not only for counsel, but for comfort. Because even big, rugged men need to be comforted. When the storms of life come against you, as they did for David many times, you need comfort. You may try to mask your feelings with a macho outlook, but inside you hurt just as women do.
Abraham, called by God to be the "father of many nations", also knew the benefits of staying close to God. So much so, that he was called a "friend" of God. And the Lord said, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; ..."( Genesis 18:19).
Such was the confidence that God had in Abraham. And He can have that same confidence in fathers of today if they would seek His face the way Abraham did. But not only did Abraham seek God, he obeyed him in everything, even to the point of taking his only son Isaac to sacrifice him, as the Lord had commanded.
Our society today is in dire need of godly fathers. In many homes the fathers are missing, and in some they are missing in action. Many juvenile offenders come from homes like these. What type of father are you? Are you missing or missing in action? Ask God to bring you back so you can fulfill your divine destiny as the head of the home. If every father would begin to do this we will see a turnaround in our nation and in the world. How about it?
Monday, June 20, 2005
God of the fathers
I trust that all you fathers had a wonderful Father’s day with your loved ones. For the past few weeks I have been writing about mothers of the Bible, so now with Fathers’ day behind us, I think it would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention something about fathers and their place in our lives.
Fathers are tough, or most of them are, but they, too, need the guidance and strength that can come only from their Heavenly Father. A father who thinks he is too much of a man to pray or go to church is depriving himself -and his family- of one of the greatest benefits, which is, godly counsel. In Psalm 63:1, David said, " ... early will I seek thee: my soul longeth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"
David knew the benefits of seeking God’s face regularly not only for counsel, but for comfort. Because even big, rugged men need to be comforted. When the storms of life come against you, as they did for David many times, you need comfort. You may try to mask your feelings with a macho outlook, but inside you hurt just as women do.
Abraham, called by God to be the "father of many nations", also knew the benefits of staying close to God. So much so, that he was called a "friend" of God. And the Lord said, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; ..."( Genesis 18:19).
Such was the confidence that God had in Abraham. And He can have that same confidence in fathers of today if they would seek His face the way Abraham did. But not only did Abraham seek God, he obeyed him in everything, even to the point of taking his only son Isaac to sacrifice him, as the Lord had commanded.
Our society today is in dire need of strong, godly fathers. In many homes the fathers are missing, and in some they are missing in action. Many juvenile offenders come from homes like these. What type of father are you? Are you missing or missing in action? Ask God to bring you back so you can fulfill your divine destiny as the head of the home. If every father would begin to do this we will see a turnaround in our nation and in the world. How about it?
Fathers are tough, or most of them are, but they, too, need the guidance and strength that can come only from their Heavenly Father. A father who thinks he is too much of a man to pray or go to church is depriving himself -and his family- of one of the greatest benefits, which is, godly counsel. In Psalm 63:1, David said, " ... early will I seek thee: my soul longeth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"
David knew the benefits of seeking God’s face regularly not only for counsel, but for comfort. Because even big, rugged men need to be comforted. When the storms of life come against you, as they did for David many times, you need comfort. You may try to mask your feelings with a macho outlook, but inside you hurt just as women do.
Abraham, called by God to be the "father of many nations", also knew the benefits of staying close to God. So much so, that he was called a "friend" of God. And the Lord said, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; ..."( Genesis 18:19).
Such was the confidence that God had in Abraham. And He can have that same confidence in fathers of today if they would seek His face the way Abraham did. But not only did Abraham seek God, he obeyed him in everything, even to the point of taking his only son Isaac to sacrifice him, as the Lord had commanded.
Our society today is in dire need of strong, godly fathers. In many homes the fathers are missing, and in some they are missing in action. Many juvenile offenders come from homes like these. What type of father are you? Are you missing or missing in action? Ask God to bring you back so you can fulfill your divine destiny as the head of the home. If every father would begin to do this we will see a turnaround in our nation and in the world. How about it?
Monday, June 06, 2005
God of the Wilderness
We have been looking at mothers who were rewarded by God for their outstanding acts of faith and sacrifice. This week I want to look at a woman who showed neither, but we shall see what God did in her life.
Hagar was the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. But Sarah, who was too old to have any children, one day had a bright idea. She thought, why don’t I give my maid to my husband so we can have a family through her? So she sold her idea to Abraham who bought it, and Hagar became pregnant.
Hagar’s status changed overnight, and she became disrespectful to her mistress, who in turn, mistreated her and Hagar fled into the desert. But the angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar and told her to go back to her mistress and submit to her and that "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude" (Genesis 16: 10).
So Hagar went back to Sarah, and she bore Abraham a son just as the angel had prophesied. Life went on smoothly after that until Sarah bore her own son, Isaac, whom God had promised. Sarah asked Abraham to put Hagar and her son out saying, "... the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac" (Genesis 21:10).
Once again Hagar found herself wandering in the wilderness, this time with her son and only some bread and a bottle of water. But soon the water bottle became empty, so Hagar placed the child under some shrubs and went and lay down a little way off and wept. But once more an angel of God came to her rescue. He told her to pick up the boy and her eyes were opened and she saw a well of water. The angel again promised, "I will make him a great nation" (v 18).
So the boy Ishmael’s life was spared.
There are many Hagars in our society today. Some of them were raped and became pregnant, or some of them might be unwed mothers, still others might be divorced mothers bringing up their children alone. We might call them unfortunate, victims of circumstance, being in the wrong place at the wrong time or whatever. If you are a Hagar today I hope that this discourse will help you to take heart. God will look after you. He will be with you in your wilderness experience. He will hear your cry, and He will save your children.
Hagar was the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. But Sarah, who was too old to have any children, one day had a bright idea. She thought, why don’t I give my maid to my husband so we can have a family through her? So she sold her idea to Abraham who bought it, and Hagar became pregnant.
Hagar’s status changed overnight, and she became disrespectful to her mistress, who in turn, mistreated her and Hagar fled into the desert. But the angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar and told her to go back to her mistress and submit to her and that "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude" (Genesis 16: 10).
So Hagar went back to Sarah, and she bore Abraham a son just as the angel had prophesied. Life went on smoothly after that until Sarah bore her own son, Isaac, whom God had promised. Sarah asked Abraham to put Hagar and her son out saying, "... the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac" (Genesis 21:10).
Once again Hagar found herself wandering in the wilderness, this time with her son and only some bread and a bottle of water. But soon the water bottle became empty, so Hagar placed the child under some shrubs and went and lay down a little way off and wept. But once more an angel of God came to her rescue. He told her to pick up the boy and her eyes were opened and she saw a well of water. The angel again promised, "I will make him a great nation" (v 18).
So the boy Ishmael’s life was spared.
There are many Hagars in our society today. Some of them were raped and became pregnant, or some of them might be unwed mothers, still others might be divorced mothers bringing up their children alone. We might call them unfortunate, victims of circumstance, being in the wrong place at the wrong time or whatever. If you are a Hagar today I hope that this discourse will help you to take heart. God will look after you. He will be with you in your wilderness experience. He will hear your cry, and He will save your children.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Never Give Up
We are continuing to look at mothers of the Bible who showed great faith and made sacrifices for their children. This week we’ll look at two mothers whose faith did not allow them to give up on their children even when all seemed to be lost.
A Shunammite woman, who had been childless, gave birth to a son after the prophecy of Elisha. But one day the boy became ill and died. The woman left the boy on the bed Elisha had slept on, saddled a donkey and rode off to find Elisha. When she told Elisha what had happened, Elisha commanded his servant Gehazi to go and lay his staff on the boy’s face. But the Shunammite woman said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" (11 Kings 4:30). So Elisha had no choice but to follow her. When they got to her house, Elisha "went up and lay upon the child ..." (V34) and the child was restored to life.
Rizpah was another mother of the Bible of whom little was known. But her unprecedented act of courage caused her name to be written in the annals of history. She was one of Saul’s concubines and she had borne him two sons. Saul slew some of the Gibeonites, and because of that there was a great famine in the land. Therefore David delivered Rizpah’s two sons, along with five of Saul’s other sons, over to the Gibeonites who hanged them in the hill as an act of revenge for what Saul had done. But Rizpah took sackcloth and spread it on a rock , "From the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night" (11 Samuel 21: 10, KJV).
When David heard what Rizpah had done, he went and gathered the bones of Saul and Johanathan his son, as well as the bones of those that were hanged. Rizpah did not have her sons brought back to life, but her courageous deed reached the king’s ears, and her sons were accorded a proper burial. And the Bible says that after that God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
How many of us would have the courage to equal that of these two women? They did not give up on their children even after they were dead. The Shunammite woman sought to have her son brought back to life, and Rizpah shielded her dead sons’ bodies from the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. If we would have just a fraction of these women’s faith and courage, we too would be greatly rewarded by God.
A Shunammite woman, who had been childless, gave birth to a son after the prophecy of Elisha. But one day the boy became ill and died. The woman left the boy on the bed Elisha had slept on, saddled a donkey and rode off to find Elisha. When she told Elisha what had happened, Elisha commanded his servant Gehazi to go and lay his staff on the boy’s face. But the Shunammite woman said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee" (11 Kings 4:30). So Elisha had no choice but to follow her. When they got to her house, Elisha "went up and lay upon the child ..." (V34) and the child was restored to life.
Rizpah was another mother of the Bible of whom little was known. But her unprecedented act of courage caused her name to be written in the annals of history. She was one of Saul’s concubines and she had borne him two sons. Saul slew some of the Gibeonites, and because of that there was a great famine in the land. Therefore David delivered Rizpah’s two sons, along with five of Saul’s other sons, over to the Gibeonites who hanged them in the hill as an act of revenge for what Saul had done. But Rizpah took sackcloth and spread it on a rock , "From the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night" (11 Samuel 21: 10, KJV).
When David heard what Rizpah had done, he went and gathered the bones of Saul and Johanathan his son, as well as the bones of those that were hanged. Rizpah did not have her sons brought back to life, but her courageous deed reached the king’s ears, and her sons were accorded a proper burial. And the Bible says that after that God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
How many of us would have the courage to equal that of these two women? They did not give up on their children even after they were dead. The Shunammite woman sought to have her son brought back to life, and Rizpah shielded her dead sons’ bodies from the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. If we would have just a fraction of these women’s faith and courage, we too would be greatly rewarded by God.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
God the Rewarder
I hope you all had a wonderful Mothers’ Day basking in the love and attention of your loved ones. I hope you also took the time to reflect on the great honor God has paid you through the gift of motherhood, and to thank Him for it. Never take this gift, nor your family for granted. Last week’s blog dealt with two mothers who suffered broken hearts because of the sacrifices they were forced to make. This week we’ll examine how God rewarded the sacrifices of Jochebed, mother of Moses, and Hannah, mother of Samuel.
It must have taken a lot of faith and courage for Moses’ mother to hide him near the river to escape being killed by the Egyptian king. But Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to wash herself, spotted the basket and asked her maid to fetch it. Pharaoh’s daughter "... had compassion on the baby and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children"(Ex 2: 6, KJV). His sister, who was watching, asked her if she should go and fetch one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed, and Moses’ mother had the unexpected joy of being able to nurse her own child again.
Hannah was another mother who did something that most women would have found unthinkable. After being barren for a long time, Hannah poured out her heart to God and made a vow that if God would remember her affliction "... and give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life ..." (1 Samuel 1:11, KJV) Why would she promise to give up something she so desperately wanted? I think the answer lies in this prayer that Hannah prayed. "They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry hath ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble." Hannah knew God would reward her for her great faith and sacrifice. And He did. Samuel became a great prophet and the Lord blessed Hannah with three sons and two daughters.
Yes, as mothers we are called to sacrifice for the good of our children. It may not mean giving them up the way Hannah did, but someday we have to let them go to fulfill God’s call on their lives. They may go to college, work in a foreign land, get married or even enlist in the army. Whatever it may be, we have to be willing to give them up, as these two women did, confident in the knowledge that God has told us, "... Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord ..." (Jer 31:16, KJV).
It must have taken a lot of faith and courage for Moses’ mother to hide him near the river to escape being killed by the Egyptian king. But Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to wash herself, spotted the basket and asked her maid to fetch it. Pharaoh’s daughter "... had compassion on the baby and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children"(Ex 2: 6, KJV). His sister, who was watching, asked her if she should go and fetch one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed, and Moses’ mother had the unexpected joy of being able to nurse her own child again.
Hannah was another mother who did something that most women would have found unthinkable. After being barren for a long time, Hannah poured out her heart to God and made a vow that if God would remember her affliction "... and give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life ..." (1 Samuel 1:11, KJV) Why would she promise to give up something she so desperately wanted? I think the answer lies in this prayer that Hannah prayed. "They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry hath ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble." Hannah knew God would reward her for her great faith and sacrifice. And He did. Samuel became a great prophet and the Lord blessed Hannah with three sons and two daughters.
Yes, as mothers we are called to sacrifice for the good of our children. It may not mean giving them up the way Hannah did, but someday we have to let them go to fulfill God’s call on their lives. They may go to college, work in a foreign land, get married or even enlist in the army. Whatever it may be, we have to be willing to give them up, as these two women did, confident in the knowledge that God has told us, "... Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord ..." (Jer 31:16, KJV).
Saturday, March 26, 2005
crude gems
This week we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many non-Christians cannot understand why we as Christians make such a big fuss about the cross. But the cross is the undergirding of our faith. Without the cross there would be no remission of sin, no hope of eternal life with God, no basis for Christianity.
The cross was a symbol of sin and shame. After all, only those believed to be sinners and worthy of condemnation were hung on the cross. The Bible says, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal 3:13, KJV). But God, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has a way of using the simple and crude things to make something unique and wonderful. He used a lowly stable as the birth place of the King of Kings; a handful of dust to create man, a stick in the hand of a stuttering leader to part the Red Sea, and an old rugged cross to save mankind.
This week I want to highlight two women, crude and shameful, whom God used to achieve His purpose. The first is Mary Magdalene out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils. This woman, shunned and ostracized by society, followed Jesus to His crucifixion and later had the honor of being the first person to see the risen Lord.
The other woman is Rahab in the old Testament who hid the spies that Joshua had sent to scope out the land. Rahab was a well known prostitute in te city, but because of her act of faith she and her family were spared from destruction. But even greater than that, Rahab became an ancestress of Jesus Christ.
Yes, two crude and despised women, but they were gems in the eyes of God. What is your situation today? Are you shunned, talked about, misused, abused? God loves you and wants to use you for His purpose. Will you let Him?
The cross was a symbol of sin and shame. After all, only those believed to be sinners and worthy of condemnation were hung on the cross. The Bible says, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal 3:13, KJV). But God, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has a way of using the simple and crude things to make something unique and wonderful. He used a lowly stable as the birth place of the King of Kings; a handful of dust to create man, a stick in the hand of a stuttering leader to part the Red Sea, and an old rugged cross to save mankind.
This week I want to highlight two women, crude and shameful, whom God used to achieve His purpose. The first is Mary Magdalene out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils. This woman, shunned and ostracized by society, followed Jesus to His crucifixion and later had the honor of being the first person to see the risen Lord.
The other woman is Rahab in the old Testament who hid the spies that Joshua had sent to scope out the land. Rahab was a well known prostitute in te city, but because of her act of faith she and her family were spared from destruction. But even greater than that, Rahab became an ancestress of Jesus Christ.
Yes, two crude and despised women, but they were gems in the eyes of God. What is your situation today? Are you shunned, talked about, misused, abused? God loves you and wants to use you for His purpose. Will you let Him?
Saturday, March 12, 2005
WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Recently I watched a movie on the life of Leona Hemsley, owner of the Harley chain of hotels. Leona was a beautiful and wealthy woman who used her wealth and influence to manipulate and abuse people for her own gain. And she ended up paying dearly-a seven-million-dollar fine and four years in prison for tax evasion and other crimes. But as Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun. This week I want to highlight two women of the Bible who used their power and influence in distinctly different ways and with differing consequences.
The first one is Abigail, described in 1 Samuel 25: 3 as "intelligent and beautiful", wife of Nabal, a wealthy man, who was "surly and mean in his dealings." When Abigail heard that Nabal had spurned King David’s request for help while he and his men were in the desert, and that David had sworn to kill all of Nabal’s men, "Abigail wasted no time." She gathered a lot of food and wine, loaded it on the donkeys and sent the servants with it ahead of her. She said nothing to Nabal. Abigail met David and his men coming toward her. She dismounted her donkey, fell at David’s feet and begged him to blame her instead of her husband, who she said was a fool. After her eloquent speech and great show of hospitality, David was greatly moved and changed his mind about killing Nabal’s men.
But that’s not the end of the story. When Abigail got home, her husband was holding a banquet and was drunk, so she waited until the next day to tell him what had happened. When Nabal heard the news, the Bible says he got a heart attack and died a few days later. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent for Abigail and married her.
Now let’s look at Jezebel. She was the wife of King Ahab, an evil man. But Jezebel surpassed her husband in doing evil. She killed the prophets and struck fear in Elijah’s heart when she threatened to kill him. Later she arranged to have Naboth stoned to death because he refused to sell his property to Ahab. She used her power and influence for her own gain, supporting her husband in his wrong doings. But in 11 Kings 9: 33, Jezebel dies a horrible death and the dogs ate her flesh, just as Elijah had prophesied.
What kind of woman are you? Whether you’re wealthy, in charge of a large corporation, doing a simple nine-to-five job or just a homemaker, you do have some influence. The Bible says when we try to manipulate others for our own ends we are practicing witchcraft, like Jezebel did. Which type of woman would you rather be? An Abigail or a Jezebel? You can be an Abigail and reap the rewards of the King in heaven, or you can be a Jezebel and reap the rewards of your father, the devil. It’s your choice.
Next week we’ll look at two other women and the choices they made. Let me hear your comments.
The first one is Abigail, described in 1 Samuel 25: 3 as "intelligent and beautiful", wife of Nabal, a wealthy man, who was "surly and mean in his dealings." When Abigail heard that Nabal had spurned King David’s request for help while he and his men were in the desert, and that David had sworn to kill all of Nabal’s men, "Abigail wasted no time." She gathered a lot of food and wine, loaded it on the donkeys and sent the servants with it ahead of her. She said nothing to Nabal. Abigail met David and his men coming toward her. She dismounted her donkey, fell at David’s feet and begged him to blame her instead of her husband, who she said was a fool. After her eloquent speech and great show of hospitality, David was greatly moved and changed his mind about killing Nabal’s men.
But that’s not the end of the story. When Abigail got home, her husband was holding a banquet and was drunk, so she waited until the next day to tell him what had happened. When Nabal heard the news, the Bible says he got a heart attack and died a few days later. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent for Abigail and married her.
Now let’s look at Jezebel. She was the wife of King Ahab, an evil man. But Jezebel surpassed her husband in doing evil. She killed the prophets and struck fear in Elijah’s heart when she threatened to kill him. Later she arranged to have Naboth stoned to death because he refused to sell his property to Ahab. She used her power and influence for her own gain, supporting her husband in his wrong doings. But in 11 Kings 9: 33, Jezebel dies a horrible death and the dogs ate her flesh, just as Elijah had prophesied.
What kind of woman are you? Whether you’re wealthy, in charge of a large corporation, doing a simple nine-to-five job or just a homemaker, you do have some influence. The Bible says when we try to manipulate others for our own ends we are practicing witchcraft, like Jezebel did. Which type of woman would you rather be? An Abigail or a Jezebel? You can be an Abigail and reap the rewards of the King in heaven, or you can be a Jezebel and reap the rewards of your father, the devil. It’s your choice.
Next week we’ll look at two other women and the choices they made. Let me hear your comments.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
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