TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY MAY 8, 2009.
CHOICES
Defined by Webster:
The act or instance of choosing; selection; the right or power or opportunity to choose; a variety from which to choose.
GODS WORD
Jesus said: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” John 15:16.
Joshua said: “Choose you this day whom you will serve, but for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
“A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches.” Proverbs 22:1.
“Refuse evil and choose good.” Isaiah 7:15.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Every day we make many CHOICES in our day to day living. Some of these choices we make are good and some are bad. We choose what we wear. We choose what we eat. We choose where we go. As parents we choose how we lead and teach. And as children we choose how we respond. When facing life as we know it every day we have to make choices.
The greatest and most important CHOICE we must make in our life is whether to serve God or not to serve God. This choice is easy to make. If we choose to serve God we have made a good and positive choice. If you choose not to serve God you have chosen --- even by not acting --- not to serve God.
How can we determine when the choices we make in our daily lives are right or wrong? The right choice will not be in conflict with God’s Word --- the Bible. This is why it is so important to study the Bible because in the Bible is God’s guide book for our life. The Psalmist said: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.
Parents have a huge responsibility to train their children in how to make choices. There are so many pressures on children today that can affect the choices they make daily. There are so many outside influences today that make a profound impact on children’s thinking. Three of the most harmful are peer pressure, music and television. Parents must be constantly on the alert and that is why we encourage every family to have dinner together every night so your children can talk and you can listen to what they are seeing and feeling.
Parents must begin teaching their children at a very early age that making the wrong choices can have a negative affect on their lives for a life time. And the opposite is also true. Making the right choices affects ones life in a positive way for a life time.
Children are making choices today as a result of watching the actions and words of their parents. That is why we parents must live a consistent Christian life putting God first in all we do and in all we say. If parents choose to live for pleasure, that will affect our children and grandchildren. [Exodus 20:4-5] Parents who live by faith before God will have a strong influence for the positive on their children and grandchildren.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Give us this day, dear Lord the wisdom to make choices to honor your name. We give you praise for choosing us and then allowing us to choose to follow you and then bear fruit for your sake. Help us to make the right decisions today for pour choice of friends, our choice of words and our actions. Protect our children, dear Lord, from harmful choices. Thank you for being our Lord and our Savior.
May 10, 2009
Agape: May 7, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY MAY 7, 2009
AGAPE
Defined by Webster:
Love; as of God for humankind or of humankind for God;
GODS WORD
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE. This is how God showed His love among us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:8-10.
Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” Matthew 22: 37-38
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
AGAPE is known as true and genuine love. Love is the very nature of God. The ultimate expression of Agape Love is God giving His only son to die on the cross for our sins. This kind of love comes to us by God through His Son Jesus Christ. If we have AGAPE love in our hearts it is because we know that God loves us with no strings attached and stands next to us every moment of every day. Love is a commitment of our heart, soul and mind to our Lord. This is TRUE AND GENUINE LOVE!
How many times in life do we find ourselves in a position of just needing someone to love us? This is when we need AGAPE love because we need that special touch that only the Lord can give. Remember, He gave His life for you. What greater love is there then this?
AGAPE love means that God first loved us and we are to love God first and then to love others. It is the love from Christ that compels us to act, to love someone [II Corinthians 5:14]. It is a love that never fails [I Corinthians 13:8]. It is a love that made Jesus say to His disciples in John 21:7, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” It is a love that a mother has for her new born child. It is a love that a man and woman have on their wedding day for each other and their God.
This Agape love can only be felt by one that has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to experience AGAPE love then make that decision today.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us as a family today to experience the AGAPE love that only you can give. We commit our hearts, our souls and our minds to you today. Give us today a broken heart that has a concern for those that are hurting. Give us a soul today that loves you with all we have and give us a mind today that is dedicated to learn more about you and your love for us and for a world.
AGAPE
Defined by Webster:
Love; as of God for humankind or of humankind for God;
GODS WORD
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE. This is how God showed His love among us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:8-10.
Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” Matthew 22: 37-38
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
AGAPE is known as true and genuine love. Love is the very nature of God. The ultimate expression of Agape Love is God giving His only son to die on the cross for our sins. This kind of love comes to us by God through His Son Jesus Christ. If we have AGAPE love in our hearts it is because we know that God loves us with no strings attached and stands next to us every moment of every day. Love is a commitment of our heart, soul and mind to our Lord. This is TRUE AND GENUINE LOVE!
How many times in life do we find ourselves in a position of just needing someone to love us? This is when we need AGAPE love because we need that special touch that only the Lord can give. Remember, He gave His life for you. What greater love is there then this?
AGAPE love means that God first loved us and we are to love God first and then to love others. It is the love from Christ that compels us to act, to love someone [II Corinthians 5:14]. It is a love that never fails [I Corinthians 13:8]. It is a love that made Jesus say to His disciples in John 21:7, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” It is a love that a mother has for her new born child. It is a love that a man and woman have on their wedding day for each other and their God.
This Agape love can only be felt by one that has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to experience AGAPE love then make that decision today.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us as a family today to experience the AGAPE love that only you can give. We commit our hearts, our souls and our minds to you today. Give us today a broken heart that has a concern for those that are hurting. Give us a soul today that loves you with all we have and give us a mind today that is dedicated to learn more about you and your love for us and for a world.
Lonely: May 6, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2009.
LONELY
Defined by Webster:
A depressing feeling about being alone; destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship; without company; isolated.
GODS WORD
“No one stood with me, but all forsook me. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” II Timothy 4: 16-17.
For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.” Psalm 142:4.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
How many times in life have you felt lonely? Many people across our world today are lonely because they have no hope for tomorrow. Every thing they do is for today and because of this they are always lonely. Life has many opportunities in the natural for loneliness. Separation from a spouse, a family or a friend brings on loneliness. Over the years we have learned that the loneliest people are those that do not have a relationship with God. This is easy to understand because having faith in the Lord gives you the assurance that God is with you and gives you hope for today tomorrow and the future.
When you do not have a relationship with God, where is your hope? Is it found by watching TV, listening to the radio, going to a movie, visiting with a friend or something else in your life? These “things” are superficial. They have no substance or lasting value, and cannot provide real satisfaction or sense of fulfillment. This is when loneliness sets in. it has been said that only what is done for Christ will last.
We have had the opportunity to travel to almost every corner of the world. And in these travels we have noticed the dramatic difference between people that have much and people that have so very little. But even more so we have noticed the difference between people that have a relationship with God [their lives radiate joy] and those who do not [they are mostly lonely, hurting and concerned about their tomorrows]. The contrast is overwhelming. Whether they have many “things” or have nothing really does not make the difference. Without God there is no smile, no hope and nothing but sadness. With God there is a big smile, singing, giving glory to God and excitement just for the opportunity of living. What a contrast to see but a contrast that reminds us that one will always ultimately be lonely without a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
We have seen lonely people. We have seen the little boy that has been orphaned because both parents have died. We have seen the lonely mother sobbing because her child has just died because there was no medicine. We just this year have seen the young boy who never knew his father and his mother just died of an illness because she could not get to a hospital on time. These people are lonely --- but when they have a relationship with God their loneliness changes to hope and happiness.
Think about the loneliness of Jesus as He was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane just hours before His death on the cross. Just think of His loneliness when He cried out to God on the cross: “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” He was lonely but He knew that He was going to die on that cross to pay the penalty of sin for you and me just to give us the Blessed Hope and happiness.
In His hours of total aloneness in the Garden of Gethsemane, who did Jesus turn to? His disciples had let Him down by going to sleep. They were not there for Him in His time of need. If you are feeling all alone and feel no one is there for you, then talk to God. He is waiting and He will not let you down.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Thank you Lord for the sacrifice you made for me by dying on the cross to pay for my sins. And thank you Lord for rising again out of the grave so I can serve a risen savior. Help me this day to be an encouragement to someone who is lonely. Help me to learn to pray for a world that needs to know Jesus. Bless my family today and thank you for providing for us far beyond what we deserve.
LONELY
Defined by Webster:
A depressing feeling about being alone; destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship; without company; isolated.
GODS WORD
“No one stood with me, but all forsook me. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” II Timothy 4: 16-17.
For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.” Psalm 142:4.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
How many times in life have you felt lonely? Many people across our world today are lonely because they have no hope for tomorrow. Every thing they do is for today and because of this they are always lonely. Life has many opportunities in the natural for loneliness. Separation from a spouse, a family or a friend brings on loneliness. Over the years we have learned that the loneliest people are those that do not have a relationship with God. This is easy to understand because having faith in the Lord gives you the assurance that God is with you and gives you hope for today tomorrow and the future.
When you do not have a relationship with God, where is your hope? Is it found by watching TV, listening to the radio, going to a movie, visiting with a friend or something else in your life? These “things” are superficial. They have no substance or lasting value, and cannot provide real satisfaction or sense of fulfillment. This is when loneliness sets in. it has been said that only what is done for Christ will last.
We have had the opportunity to travel to almost every corner of the world. And in these travels we have noticed the dramatic difference between people that have much and people that have so very little. But even more so we have noticed the difference between people that have a relationship with God [their lives radiate joy] and those who do not [they are mostly lonely, hurting and concerned about their tomorrows]. The contrast is overwhelming. Whether they have many “things” or have nothing really does not make the difference. Without God there is no smile, no hope and nothing but sadness. With God there is a big smile, singing, giving glory to God and excitement just for the opportunity of living. What a contrast to see but a contrast that reminds us that one will always ultimately be lonely without a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
We have seen lonely people. We have seen the little boy that has been orphaned because both parents have died. We have seen the lonely mother sobbing because her child has just died because there was no medicine. We just this year have seen the young boy who never knew his father and his mother just died of an illness because she could not get to a hospital on time. These people are lonely --- but when they have a relationship with God their loneliness changes to hope and happiness.
Think about the loneliness of Jesus as He was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane just hours before His death on the cross. Just think of His loneliness when He cried out to God on the cross: “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” He was lonely but He knew that He was going to die on that cross to pay the penalty of sin for you and me just to give us the Blessed Hope and happiness.
In His hours of total aloneness in the Garden of Gethsemane, who did Jesus turn to? His disciples had let Him down by going to sleep. They were not there for Him in His time of need. If you are feeling all alone and feel no one is there for you, then talk to God. He is waiting and He will not let you down.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Thank you Lord for the sacrifice you made for me by dying on the cross to pay for my sins. And thank you Lord for rising again out of the grave so I can serve a risen savior. Help me this day to be an encouragement to someone who is lonely. Help me to learn to pray for a world that needs to know Jesus. Bless my family today and thank you for providing for us far beyond what we deserve.
Commitment: May 5, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY MAY 5, 2009.
COMMITMENT
Defined by Webster:
The act of committing; pledging or engaging oneself; a promise; obligation.
GODS WORD
“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16:3
Jesus said: “Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34.
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to the faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” II Timothy 2:2.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
These three scripture verses give us three ways to look at the word COMMITMENT. First we are to commit our works to the Lord daily. Secondly there is a reminder to us that when we commit sin we become a slave to sin. And finally we are told that what we learn from studying God’s Word we should commit that to the people we meet daily.
There are numerous times every day when a commitment to or for something is necessary. The most important commitment that one can make in a lifetime is a firm commitment to God. This is the first step in living a life that is pleasing to God. Making a commitment to God is more then going to church, reading the Bible or even praying. A commitment to God is having a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This is what makes Christianity meaningful, unique and different then all other religions. As we develop a closer relationship with God, He will be able to work in and through us and then we can experience God’s blessings.
Other commitments that are important to make in life is a commitment to your spouse, your family, your neighbors, your church, your school and your job. These commitments are vital for one to live a rewarding and fulfilled life. It means more then a promise. A commitment requires action.
We remember when one of our children was in high school and she was very active in sports as well as being her high schools student body president. Frankly she came to a point in her life when she was “burned out” with sports and she wanted to quit. She had made a commitment to sports and she had an important role to play on the teams. As parents it was our responsibility to remind her that she had made a promise to her school, her coaches and her teams, and she needed to realize she had an obligation to fulfill that commitment.
She decided to honor her commitments and in return God honored her with success. She never quit and she gave her best to fulfill all of her commitments. This is what Commitments are all about. Everyday we make commitments. How many do you honor? Commitments are a promise and an obligation.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
We come to you today Lord, to renew our commitment to you to live this day honoring your name. We ask for strength that only you can give for us to meet every commitment we have made for today. We commit our works, our deeds and our thoughts to you. We pray that you will give us opportunities to help others to know you as their Lord. We ask you to bless our family, our friends, our Church and the world we live in with a special blessing from you today.
COMMITMENT
Defined by Webster:
The act of committing; pledging or engaging oneself; a promise; obligation.
GODS WORD
“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16:3
Jesus said: “Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34.
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to the faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” II Timothy 2:2.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
These three scripture verses give us three ways to look at the word COMMITMENT. First we are to commit our works to the Lord daily. Secondly there is a reminder to us that when we commit sin we become a slave to sin. And finally we are told that what we learn from studying God’s Word we should commit that to the people we meet daily.
There are numerous times every day when a commitment to or for something is necessary. The most important commitment that one can make in a lifetime is a firm commitment to God. This is the first step in living a life that is pleasing to God. Making a commitment to God is more then going to church, reading the Bible or even praying. A commitment to God is having a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This is what makes Christianity meaningful, unique and different then all other religions. As we develop a closer relationship with God, He will be able to work in and through us and then we can experience God’s blessings.
Other commitments that are important to make in life is a commitment to your spouse, your family, your neighbors, your church, your school and your job. These commitments are vital for one to live a rewarding and fulfilled life. It means more then a promise. A commitment requires action.
We remember when one of our children was in high school and she was very active in sports as well as being her high schools student body president. Frankly she came to a point in her life when she was “burned out” with sports and she wanted to quit. She had made a commitment to sports and she had an important role to play on the teams. As parents it was our responsibility to remind her that she had made a promise to her school, her coaches and her teams, and she needed to realize she had an obligation to fulfill that commitment.
She decided to honor her commitments and in return God honored her with success. She never quit and she gave her best to fulfill all of her commitments. This is what Commitments are all about. Everyday we make commitments. How many do you honor? Commitments are a promise and an obligation.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
We come to you today Lord, to renew our commitment to you to live this day honoring your name. We ask for strength that only you can give for us to meet every commitment we have made for today. We commit our works, our deeds and our thoughts to you. We pray that you will give us opportunities to help others to know you as their Lord. We ask you to bless our family, our friends, our Church and the world we live in with a special blessing from you today.
Respect: May 4, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MAY 4, 2009.
RESPECT
DEFINED BY WEBSTER:
Esteem; admiration; proper acceptance of courtesy; the condition of being esteemed or honored.
GODS WORD
“Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them RESPECT.” Hebrews 12:9.
“Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King” I Peter 2:`17.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Without question one of the most serious problems facing young people today is their lack of respect. Most young people do not respect their parents, their siblings, their peers, their teachers or even their friends. The root problem is that so many children and parents have no respect for God Himself. How many times a day do we hear God’s name, the name of Jesus used in a disrespectful way? For example parents and children are heard saying: “Oh my God, it was awful.” This is the ultimate of disrespect and misuse of God’s Holy Name and leads to disrespect in all areas of life.
In Exodus 20:7 we are warned that the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. When children hear their parents misusing God’s name they think it is OK for them to do the same. This is part of the break down of the family unit for our children today.
When our children were teenagers, we can remember several incidents when we as parents had set standards and expected respect from our child in regards to adhering to those standards. When one of our children broke the standard that we had set, we first of all clarified to them the reason for the standard and then issued the penalty. We always tried to be fair and consistent in our response and then we saw that the penalty terms were honored with respect. The penalty was always increased when our child would respond with a lack of respect.
At the time, our child’s response was often negative but because we were clear, consistent and fair it rarely would happen again. Now that our children are parents, they fully understand the necessity of setting standards for their families and they expect their children to be respectful to them. This is very rewarding to us because our children learned respect and they are now teaching their children respect and even though they live in a TOUGHER WORLD today their children all show great respect to God, their parents, their grand parents, their siblings, their cousins and their friends.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us to honor and respect you in all that we do. Help us to respect those that we meet with today, including our parents and friends, and let our love for you shine through our lives to them. Help us to face today with the goals of honoring all the people we meet, loving the unlovely that need our love, and then honoring the Lord in all we do and say.
RESPECT
DEFINED BY WEBSTER:
Esteem; admiration; proper acceptance of courtesy; the condition of being esteemed or honored.
GODS WORD
“Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them RESPECT.” Hebrews 12:9.
“Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King” I Peter 2:`17.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Without question one of the most serious problems facing young people today is their lack of respect. Most young people do not respect their parents, their siblings, their peers, their teachers or even their friends. The root problem is that so many children and parents have no respect for God Himself. How many times a day do we hear God’s name, the name of Jesus used in a disrespectful way? For example parents and children are heard saying: “Oh my God, it was awful.” This is the ultimate of disrespect and misuse of God’s Holy Name and leads to disrespect in all areas of life.
In Exodus 20:7 we are warned that the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. When children hear their parents misusing God’s name they think it is OK for them to do the same. This is part of the break down of the family unit for our children today.
When our children were teenagers, we can remember several incidents when we as parents had set standards and expected respect from our child in regards to adhering to those standards. When one of our children broke the standard that we had set, we first of all clarified to them the reason for the standard and then issued the penalty. We always tried to be fair and consistent in our response and then we saw that the penalty terms were honored with respect. The penalty was always increased when our child would respond with a lack of respect.
At the time, our child’s response was often negative but because we were clear, consistent and fair it rarely would happen again. Now that our children are parents, they fully understand the necessity of setting standards for their families and they expect their children to be respectful to them. This is very rewarding to us because our children learned respect and they are now teaching their children respect and even though they live in a TOUGHER WORLD today their children all show great respect to God, their parents, their grand parents, their siblings, their cousins and their friends.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us to honor and respect you in all that we do. Help us to respect those that we meet with today, including our parents and friends, and let our love for you shine through our lives to them. Help us to face today with the goals of honoring all the people we meet, loving the unlovely that need our love, and then honoring the Lord in all we do and say.
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