TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2009
HONOR
Defined by Webster:
High esteem; high reputation; credit for honesty; fairness in dealing; respect; accept.
GODS WORD
“Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12.
“Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.” Psalm 66:2.
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase.” Proverbs 3:9.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Our life work has been dedicated to help hurting and hungry children. We believe that one of the most important lessons you can teach children today is to honor their God, their parents and their friends. As the verse above states, children are to obey/honor their fathers and mothers. In recent years we have noticed in our travels that the farther one gets away from America the more children honor their mother and father. Here in America most children show very little respect for their parents but in most third world countries children honor their parents.
There are several thoughts that we need to understand concerning the word “HONOR.” First and foremost we need to honor God for whom He is and for all that He has done for us. In John 5:23 we are told that all should honor the Son (Jesus) just as they honor the Father (God). He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. The scripture also tells us (John 12:26) that anyone that serves Me (Jesus), My father will honor.
Honoring God is not an option for Christians. You cannot be a true believer and not honor God. When we honor God, He will honor and bless us in all areas of our lives.
We are also to honor our family. This includes children honoring their parents, spouses honoring each other and families showing honor and respect to their extended families and to neighbors and friends. In today’s society here in America, this is not happening. Just today we were driving home from a visit to a store and a car came roaring up from behind us and then swerved over one lane. As soon as he was half way past us, he cut back in front of us making us swerve and hit our brakes. This event reminded us that people today basically do not respect or honor any one else, let alone God. This typifies the culture that we live in today. There is no respect or honor for others.
When we think of the word honor, we need to remember to honor the Lord with our possessions. This includes our wealth, our talents and our time. As Christians sometimes we forget that God wants all that He has given to us to be available to Him to further His kingdom. It is not enough just to tithe of your wealth. If you have talents and time that God can use, He expects us to honor Him with these as well. Consider how you can use what God has given you and then ask God to broaden your vision and then let God do His work through you. It might require sacrifice on your part, but if you honor God He will bless you.
REMEMBER: We cannot over honor our God!
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
I pause to honor You for all that You have bestowed upon me and my family. Thank you for sending Your Son to die and pay the penalty for my sins. Thank you for giving me wealth, talents and time so I can honor You. Give me a new vision so that I can do what You call me to do to honor Your name.
August 30, 2009
Afraid: August 27, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 27, 2009
AFRAID
Defined by Webster:
Feeling fear or apprehension.
GODS WORD
“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Genesis 26:24.
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Save me, O my God.” Psalm 3: 6-7.
“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Psalm 56:3.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Do you often feel afraid? If so, you are not alone. God’s message to us from the Old Testament is “Do not be afraid.” Great men of God in the Old Testament have all experienced fear and needed the assurance from God that He was with them and therefore they had no reason to fear. Abraham, Moses, Isaac, David and Jeremiah, for example, were all told by God not to be afraid. Jesus used the very same words to reassure His disciples when they experienced fear.
If God has told us not to be afraid, then why do we feel afraid? David tells us in Psalm 18 that being afraid is a result of the evil that engulfs us on every side and this is because of our own unbelief and sinful ways. David tells us to trust in God when we are afraid. (Psalm 56:3)
In Psalm 3, David tells us although he was surrounded by tens of thousands of enemies he was not afraid. He could lie down and sleep because he trusted God. It is hard to sleep when we are afraid, but David reminds us that if we cannot sleep because we are afraid, we just need to put our trust in God.
We can remember our young children from time to time waking up in the middle of the night saying they were afraid. What makes this happen? Most of the time it relates back to something they have heard or something said or seen. It may have been words from a friend, a story, a television program or a negative or misunderstood comment. Our family experienced the Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and a second one, the Northridge earthquake in 1994. The after shocks caused us and the children to fear. So we understand when people say they have had moments when they have been afraid because of things they have seen or heard.
Being afraid is not uncommon for many people today. When you sit down and talk to people you often hear them say that they are afraid. They are afraid of the direction their children are going. They are afraid that they cannot keep their marriage together. They are afraid of losing a job.
Let us repeat what we said above. For those that love the Lord and do what the scripture tells us to do, we should not be afraid. Our hope is in the Lord and He has promised us that He will take care of us. All we have to do is to cast our cares, worries, and fears upon Him and rest in the assurance that He will take care of us. Do you live with this assurance? If not, now is the time to let go of being afraid and let God take care of all your concerns.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Thank you for taking away from me the thoughts of being afraid. Give me confidence today that all my concerns are in Your hands and You are caring for me. May my family find this same assurance as they walk through life today!
AFRAID
Defined by Webster:
Feeling fear or apprehension.
GODS WORD
“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Genesis 26:24.
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Save me, O my God.” Psalm 3: 6-7.
“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Psalm 56:3.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Do you often feel afraid? If so, you are not alone. God’s message to us from the Old Testament is “Do not be afraid.” Great men of God in the Old Testament have all experienced fear and needed the assurance from God that He was with them and therefore they had no reason to fear. Abraham, Moses, Isaac, David and Jeremiah, for example, were all told by God not to be afraid. Jesus used the very same words to reassure His disciples when they experienced fear.
If God has told us not to be afraid, then why do we feel afraid? David tells us in Psalm 18 that being afraid is a result of the evil that engulfs us on every side and this is because of our own unbelief and sinful ways. David tells us to trust in God when we are afraid. (Psalm 56:3)
In Psalm 3, David tells us although he was surrounded by tens of thousands of enemies he was not afraid. He could lie down and sleep because he trusted God. It is hard to sleep when we are afraid, but David reminds us that if we cannot sleep because we are afraid, we just need to put our trust in God.
We can remember our young children from time to time waking up in the middle of the night saying they were afraid. What makes this happen? Most of the time it relates back to something they have heard or something said or seen. It may have been words from a friend, a story, a television program or a negative or misunderstood comment. Our family experienced the Sylmar earthquake in 1971 and a second one, the Northridge earthquake in 1994. The after shocks caused us and the children to fear. So we understand when people say they have had moments when they have been afraid because of things they have seen or heard.
Being afraid is not uncommon for many people today. When you sit down and talk to people you often hear them say that they are afraid. They are afraid of the direction their children are going. They are afraid that they cannot keep their marriage together. They are afraid of losing a job.
Let us repeat what we said above. For those that love the Lord and do what the scripture tells us to do, we should not be afraid. Our hope is in the Lord and He has promised us that He will take care of us. All we have to do is to cast our cares, worries, and fears upon Him and rest in the assurance that He will take care of us. Do you live with this assurance? If not, now is the time to let go of being afraid and let God take care of all your concerns.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Thank you for taking away from me the thoughts of being afraid. Give me confidence today that all my concerns are in Your hands and You are caring for me. May my family find this same assurance as they walk through life today!
Calamity: August 26, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 2009
CALAMITY
Defined by Webster:
A great misfortune or cause of distress; disaster.
GODS WORD
“For the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.” Deuteronomy 32:35.
“Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall become broken without remedy. Proverbs 6:15.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
At some time or the other we all face a calamity in life. Calamities are most often accidents, but we do bring calamities on ourselves. In Proverbs 1:26-27 it reads: “I will laugh at your disaster (calamity); I will mock when calamity overtakes you.” This sounds like a heartless reaction but we have no one to blame but ourselves. Those who foolishly laugh and mock God will one day find that God has the last laugh. Solomon tells us in verses 24-25 that the reason why calamities overtake us is because we have rejected God, His wisdom and advice. And Solomon goes on to say: “Then they will call on me and I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.”
God is not the author or the cause of calamities but He will let us experience calamities because of our pride and arrogant ways and when we turn our eyes away from God. When we put our trust in God and listen to Him, He will lead us away from calamity. He wants to protect us from calamities because of His love for us Proverbs 1:33 says: “Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
In real life we have calamities. These are normal events that just happen because of circumstances. After all, we are all human. One of our children over the years became lovingly known as “Calamity Jane” to our family. For some unknown reason she had nine accidents and nine broken bones. Yes, she was very athletic but so were all of our children. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and became the victim of calamities. Calamities like these come and go and do not affect a relationship one has with God unless one starts to blame God.
The calamities we are concerned about today deal with the calamities that result from not having a relationship with God. In the Old Testament there were so many illustrations given to us that involved men and women who God was ready to use but because of their actions they became calamities in God’s sight. When this happens, God can not use a person that turns away from God and accepts living without God in a sinful society. And God will only wait so long for one to get on track with Him.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Thank you Lord for keeping my eyes and heart focused on You. Keep me from being a spiritual calamity. Bless my family and help us together to be shining lights for you in a world loaded with calamities.
CALAMITY
Defined by Webster:
A great misfortune or cause of distress; disaster.
GODS WORD
“For the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.” Deuteronomy 32:35.
“Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall become broken without remedy. Proverbs 6:15.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
At some time or the other we all face a calamity in life. Calamities are most often accidents, but we do bring calamities on ourselves. In Proverbs 1:26-27 it reads: “I will laugh at your disaster (calamity); I will mock when calamity overtakes you.” This sounds like a heartless reaction but we have no one to blame but ourselves. Those who foolishly laugh and mock God will one day find that God has the last laugh. Solomon tells us in verses 24-25 that the reason why calamities overtake us is because we have rejected God, His wisdom and advice. And Solomon goes on to say: “Then they will call on me and I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.”
God is not the author or the cause of calamities but He will let us experience calamities because of our pride and arrogant ways and when we turn our eyes away from God. When we put our trust in God and listen to Him, He will lead us away from calamity. He wants to protect us from calamities because of His love for us Proverbs 1:33 says: “Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
In real life we have calamities. These are normal events that just happen because of circumstances. After all, we are all human. One of our children over the years became lovingly known as “Calamity Jane” to our family. For some unknown reason she had nine accidents and nine broken bones. Yes, she was very athletic but so were all of our children. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and became the victim of calamities. Calamities like these come and go and do not affect a relationship one has with God unless one starts to blame God.
The calamities we are concerned about today deal with the calamities that result from not having a relationship with God. In the Old Testament there were so many illustrations given to us that involved men and women who God was ready to use but because of their actions they became calamities in God’s sight. When this happens, God can not use a person that turns away from God and accepts living without God in a sinful society. And God will only wait so long for one to get on track with Him.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Thank you Lord for keeping my eyes and heart focused on You. Keep me from being a spiritual calamity. Bless my family and help us together to be shining lights for you in a world loaded with calamities.
Opportunities: August 25, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 25, 2009
OPPORTUNITIES
Defined by Webster:
A favorable occasion or time; timely; appropriate.
GODS WORD
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10.
“Be very careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
By definition the word “opportunity” suggests that it comes with a time limit. In Isaiah 55:6-7 it says: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” The scripture is clear to warn us that this opportunity will not always be there for us. We can distance ourselves away from God by getting deeper into the sinful ways of this world and then the harder our heart gets against God it becomes very difficult to turn to God. Isaiah 55:7 gives us the assurance that if we are willing to give up our sinful ways we can turn to God and He will have mercy on us and freely pardon us.
The Bible tells us that “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23), and that the “wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”(Romans 6:23). If you have passed up opportunities to accept Christ as your Savior, now is the time to accept Christ’s free gift of forgiveness and receive eternal life. God gives us many opportunities to receive this gift of eternal life and we like to think there is always a tomorrow, but there will be a time that He will close that door of opportunity.
The Lord can return at any moment and we must be ready. Jesus said in Luke 13:25-28 that the day will come if we miss our opportunities to come to Him when He will say, “I tell you I do not know you or where you come from.” When you find yourself standing at heavens’ door, will Jesus know you?
Jonah was one person that was given a second chance --- an opportunity to do what God asked him to do. (Jonah 1:1-3). God used the “WHALE” to wake up Jonah and Jonah responded by going and doing what God wanted him to do.
Paul gives us numerous illustrations about making use of every opportunity that came his way. In Acts 21:37, Paul was arrested by the soldiers and he asked for the opportunity to witness. He loved the Lord so much that whatever situation he was in he wanted the opportunity to tell others about his Lord.
And Paul tells the church at Philippi as recorded in Philippians 4:10, how much he appreciated their care for him. They had an opportunity to help Paul and he said: “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me flourished again; though you surely did care, but before you did not have the opportunity.”
Paul stresses to us in Ephesians 5:16-17 (above), the urgency of making the most of every opportunity. Paul felt a sense of urgency because of the evil that prevailed at that time. We live in a world that seems to have even more evil around us then in Paul’s time. Every day we have opportunities. We have opportunities to tell some one about Jesus. We have opportunities to help a hurting or hungry person. We have opportunities to build a relationship that is hurting. It is urgent that we as Christians take a look at how we respond to opportunities and act wisely and being careful to obey God.
All of us have these opportunities but we are either too lazy to act, too fearful to respond or just do not care. Read the verse again that we have put above (Galatians 6:10) and then ask your self the question --- “Am I doing good to all that I meet each day?”
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Give me new opportunities today to share my love with people that need to know You. Help me to be sensitive to any opportunities I may see to help people that are hurting. Bless my family and give each one of us opportunities to do good to all we meet.
OPPORTUNITIES
Defined by Webster:
A favorable occasion or time; timely; appropriate.
GODS WORD
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10.
“Be very careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
By definition the word “opportunity” suggests that it comes with a time limit. In Isaiah 55:6-7 it says: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” The scripture is clear to warn us that this opportunity will not always be there for us. We can distance ourselves away from God by getting deeper into the sinful ways of this world and then the harder our heart gets against God it becomes very difficult to turn to God. Isaiah 55:7 gives us the assurance that if we are willing to give up our sinful ways we can turn to God and He will have mercy on us and freely pardon us.
The Bible tells us that “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23), and that the “wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”(Romans 6:23). If you have passed up opportunities to accept Christ as your Savior, now is the time to accept Christ’s free gift of forgiveness and receive eternal life. God gives us many opportunities to receive this gift of eternal life and we like to think there is always a tomorrow, but there will be a time that He will close that door of opportunity.
The Lord can return at any moment and we must be ready. Jesus said in Luke 13:25-28 that the day will come if we miss our opportunities to come to Him when He will say, “I tell you I do not know you or where you come from.” When you find yourself standing at heavens’ door, will Jesus know you?
Jonah was one person that was given a second chance --- an opportunity to do what God asked him to do. (Jonah 1:1-3). God used the “WHALE” to wake up Jonah and Jonah responded by going and doing what God wanted him to do.
Paul gives us numerous illustrations about making use of every opportunity that came his way. In Acts 21:37, Paul was arrested by the soldiers and he asked for the opportunity to witness. He loved the Lord so much that whatever situation he was in he wanted the opportunity to tell others about his Lord.
And Paul tells the church at Philippi as recorded in Philippians 4:10, how much he appreciated their care for him. They had an opportunity to help Paul and he said: “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me flourished again; though you surely did care, but before you did not have the opportunity.”
Paul stresses to us in Ephesians 5:16-17 (above), the urgency of making the most of every opportunity. Paul felt a sense of urgency because of the evil that prevailed at that time. We live in a world that seems to have even more evil around us then in Paul’s time. Every day we have opportunities. We have opportunities to tell some one about Jesus. We have opportunities to help a hurting or hungry person. We have opportunities to build a relationship that is hurting. It is urgent that we as Christians take a look at how we respond to opportunities and act wisely and being careful to obey God.
All of us have these opportunities but we are either too lazy to act, too fearful to respond or just do not care. Read the verse again that we have put above (Galatians 6:10) and then ask your self the question --- “Am I doing good to all that I meet each day?”
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Give me new opportunities today to share my love with people that need to know You. Help me to be sensitive to any opportunities I may see to help people that are hurting. Bless my family and give each one of us opportunities to do good to all we meet.
Stewards: August 24, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY AUGUST 24, 2009
STEWARDS
Defined by Webster;
A manager or trustee; a chief servant; guard; conserve.
GODS WORD
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10.
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” I Corinthians 4:1.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
As far back as we can remember our parents trained both of us to be good stewards of our time, our talents and our material possessions. Both of us, because of this training and probably also because of our circumstances in life, have strived to be good stewards.
One thing we have learned and passed on to our children is the importance of being a steward of the finances God has given us. We give our 10% tithe back to God plus over and above offerings. Your tithe already belongs to God. An offering is what is given over and above a tithe.
In Malachi 3:8-12 Malachi had to rebuke God’s people because they were not honoring God and were not giving their tithes and offerings. He tells them that they are robbing God when they withhold their tithes and offerings. He also tells them God will bless them if they bring their tithes and offerings to the Lord. Malachi challenges them to test God and see if it is not so. We have tested God concerning the giving of our tithes and offerings over and over again. It is amazing to see how God blesses us when we give our tithes and offerings consistently.
God has always supplied our every need. And, you should know that there have been numerous times that we just did not know how we were going to meet our commitments, but we gave in spite of this concern. We can assure you that God honors this financial stewardship.
The second area of stewardship is the talents that God has given us. One of the saddest things in life is seeing a person just loaded with talent who sits back doing nothing. Then there are people loaded with talent and abilities and they use these for evil purposes. We have learned through the years that God has given us different talents, and He has done this for a reason. We have learned to merge our talents together and Dottie does what she does best and Ken does what he does best. Then together we have seen God do so much more through us than what either one of us could do individually.
The third area of stewardship is our time. God expects us to give of our time to others. We have learned that nothing is more important in our lives, except for our relationship with God than to give time to our children and now our grandchildren.
Time given is time for bonding, listening, guiding, teaching and learning. God also expects us to give time regularly to our spouses, to our extended families, to our neighbors and to the world we live in. Most people today spend there time on themselves. They watch TV; read the paper, magazines and books; play games on the computer or get on the internet for hours. This is not what God wants from you. He wants you to be a good steward of your time and invest it in people through your family, your church, your workplace, your neighborhood or through a mission project to a needy and hurting world.
In Luke 12:42 Jesus tells a parable about the good and bad stewards and that each one was rewarded according to his faithfulness and obedience. How good a steward we are of what God has given to us will determine our heavenly rewards. A good steward will work diligently and be obedient to his master’s commands. If our gifts and talents are limited, God does not hold us responsible for over and above what He has given us. We are responsible and rewarded for the stewardship of the gifts He has given us.
We learn through this study that we need to be faithful to God as to how we use the talents, time and material blessings that God has given to us. What kind of a steward are you?
TODAYS PRAYER
Thank You for the talent, material blessings and time that You have entrusted to me. Give me a new direction in order for me to be the steward You want me to be each and every day. Help me to use what I have to bring honor and glory to Your name.
STEWARDS
Defined by Webster;
A manager or trustee; a chief servant; guard; conserve.
GODS WORD
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10.
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” I Corinthians 4:1.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
As far back as we can remember our parents trained both of us to be good stewards of our time, our talents and our material possessions. Both of us, because of this training and probably also because of our circumstances in life, have strived to be good stewards.
One thing we have learned and passed on to our children is the importance of being a steward of the finances God has given us. We give our 10% tithe back to God plus over and above offerings. Your tithe already belongs to God. An offering is what is given over and above a tithe.
In Malachi 3:8-12 Malachi had to rebuke God’s people because they were not honoring God and were not giving their tithes and offerings. He tells them that they are robbing God when they withhold their tithes and offerings. He also tells them God will bless them if they bring their tithes and offerings to the Lord. Malachi challenges them to test God and see if it is not so. We have tested God concerning the giving of our tithes and offerings over and over again. It is amazing to see how God blesses us when we give our tithes and offerings consistently.
God has always supplied our every need. And, you should know that there have been numerous times that we just did not know how we were going to meet our commitments, but we gave in spite of this concern. We can assure you that God honors this financial stewardship.
The second area of stewardship is the talents that God has given us. One of the saddest things in life is seeing a person just loaded with talent who sits back doing nothing. Then there are people loaded with talent and abilities and they use these for evil purposes. We have learned through the years that God has given us different talents, and He has done this for a reason. We have learned to merge our talents together and Dottie does what she does best and Ken does what he does best. Then together we have seen God do so much more through us than what either one of us could do individually.
The third area of stewardship is our time. God expects us to give of our time to others. We have learned that nothing is more important in our lives, except for our relationship with God than to give time to our children and now our grandchildren.
Time given is time for bonding, listening, guiding, teaching and learning. God also expects us to give time regularly to our spouses, to our extended families, to our neighbors and to the world we live in. Most people today spend there time on themselves. They watch TV; read the paper, magazines and books; play games on the computer or get on the internet for hours. This is not what God wants from you. He wants you to be a good steward of your time and invest it in people through your family, your church, your workplace, your neighborhood or through a mission project to a needy and hurting world.
In Luke 12:42 Jesus tells a parable about the good and bad stewards and that each one was rewarded according to his faithfulness and obedience. How good a steward we are of what God has given to us will determine our heavenly rewards. A good steward will work diligently and be obedient to his master’s commands. If our gifts and talents are limited, God does not hold us responsible for over and above what He has given us. We are responsible and rewarded for the stewardship of the gifts He has given us.
We learn through this study that we need to be faithful to God as to how we use the talents, time and material blessings that God has given to us. What kind of a steward are you?
TODAYS PRAYER
Thank You for the talent, material blessings and time that You have entrusted to me. Give me a new direction in order for me to be the steward You want me to be each and every day. Help me to use what I have to bring honor and glory to Your name.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
