Is it written down?

My husband tells the story of a military couple who were promised that they will not be sent to the war-front only to get posting letters some months after they had signed up. The host of the show also invited a Military lawyer to "help" this couple out of their quagmire.

What's your job?

I watched a comedy where a wife and mother was talking about their family and said to her husband: “My job is to protect you so you don’t fall on your faces.” Her husband’s response was: “Your job is to pick us up when we do.” Who do you think was correct?

Answer when they ask...

An excerpt of Deut 6: 20 -21 says: The next time your child asks you...tell your child...

So we don't take it out of context, the excerpt is from Deuteronomy 6 which talked about how to respond to our children's questions on why we obey the word of God.
The principle shared here applies to every aspect of life - Christianity is not a religion

- it is a distinguished lifestyle.

Are you a Chicken, Ostrich or Penguin?

There are so many books on Parenting - I've even read some myself. A few months ago, I listened to an interesting message titled "Motherhood and Fatherhood incorporated" by Pastor Nike Adeyemi (Daystar Christian Centre) that hit the nail on the head of my current pain in the trend I'm seeing in parenting. I've seen 3 types of parents...

Chicken, Ostrich, Penguins.

The Bible talks about the first 2 types:

Do our children know?

2 Chronicles 6:3-4, 10a

Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. And he said: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying...So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke (NKJV)

Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing: “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father...And now the Lord has fulfilled the promise he made... (NLT)

When I read this passage one morning - and it wasn't my first time of ever reading it - these sections jumped out at me. I asked myself - and now you:

 Do my/your children know what God has promised me/you and them?

Read the Handbook

Have you read the Employee Handbook for the company you work in? Ok - did I go too far? How many of you have even ever seen it? Ok one more step back - do you know whether or not your company has one? 

It is so funny that a lot of people want to get some benefits or shall I say "privileges" from their employers and don't realize that sometimes with they are even short-changing themselves - because what they are asking for has already been offered to them in the Handbook. I remember someone telling me that people in a particular company miss out on some privileges (and even their rights) because they do not take the time to find out what the company has to offer them - and sometimes some of those "offers" extend benefits to their families. What a "loss!"

Doesn't that sound so familiar? Well it does to me. There are a lot of Christians who are not living the abundant life* or the life of abundance** - they are simply losing out of a fulfilling and fulfilled life due to their "ignorance." The Bible is our Life Handbook. The Bible tells us about our "rights" and privileges are - for instance, God loads us with benefits every day.***

If you don't read this Handbook, you will not know which benefits accrue to you.

Hosea 14:2a says we should take words with us to the Lord....and that is also the way we get some benefits from our employers. When you know what is due to you by name - because it is written, it is easier to ask for and receive it - and you will know what you have received.

Read the Handbook - you'll be glad you did.

References:

*John 10:10 - The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (Amplified)

**Eph 1:3 - All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. (New Living Translation)

2 Pet 1:3 - God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity. (God's Word Translation)

Phil 4:19 - And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs. (Good News Translation)

***Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah (New King James Version)

11-11-11

Today has a very unique date - one that is witnessed only once in a hundred years. We are indeed blessed to be part of the generation that sees such dates - some people are born and die before one of these dates. We thank God for life & must never take it for granted.

For some nations, this is also a day of remembrance - when we remember all the fallen soldiers - those who gave their lives so we can live in freedom. They paid the ultimate price. We trust God will continue to comfort and strengthen their families.

As we remember those who gave their lives, we should also remember the One who also gave His life so we may have life in abundance even to eternal life. Eternal life is a gift from God which we only receive when we accept Jesus Christ. If you are not yet born-again, today can go beyond being a unique date to becoming a unique day for you. Just do ABC:

Accept that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.

Believe in the Lord Jesus and turn your life over to Him.

Commit yourself to learning more about Jesus - read the Bible: start from the book of John.

Give your life to Jesus Christ, the Risen Saviour, and this will be a day you will never forget.

Does Fasting follow Feasting...

or should Feasting follow Fasting?

Sounds like a trick question doesn't it? Well it isn't. Two years ago, someone asked me:

"What does it mean to live a fasted life?"

When cleaning out my mailbox, I saw our email exchange - so let's start this piece there: 

"Look good for God"

When getting ready for our evening Communion service, one of my sons told the other: "You have to put on your tie" (which he had worn to church that morning).
The response: "I don't want to wear it." Insisting, the first brother said:

"You need to look good for God."

I smiled as I overhead their conversation which cast my mind back to the "Appealing or Appalling"* piece and realised God had let me overhear this conversation to take our "discussion" one step further...

Must you...

...handle it or can you hand it over? I'm amazed and appalled when I meet people who think and believe that they have to be in a certain place - work, church or wherever - for some things to happen. For instance, they never fully go on vacation because they need to do sometime and feel that noone else can quite do it. I do not dispute that there are times that it's easier or just more efficient for you to do some things yourself however, the point is if you are that good, you should be willing to help others become "as good" or even better than you.

Appealing or Appalling?

I have mentioned before that I like watching people and of course watching myself (and the beam in my eye). One of the things I watch/observe is the way a lot of people, especially females, dress during different seasons of the year and in different places or for events. On occassion, I actually walk up to some of those ladies whose dressing (and comportment), in my opinion, are "appealing" and compliment/commend them. When I notice what I would consider "appalling" dressing - especially in church or similar settings, I also approach the person, within my limits, and comment - I do my best not to condemn them.

Before I go on with this posting, I'd like to make 2 things clear - possibly stating the obvious:
1. I'm not a fashion "expert" and have no intention to become one either.
2. I realize that I may be stepping into murky waters with this topic because what is appalling to one person may be appealing to another and vice versa.

With those cards on the table, the question for me is: "How much self-respect do we display with the way we dress?" I know some people would rather overlook this than tackle it head on - I cannot disagree more, so I'll continue - I hope you'll continue reading too...