Today's Word for Friday August 6, 2010
TRIALS
DEFINITION
Being tried or tested; subjected to suffering or grief; distress; affliction or trouble; a troublesome, wearing or annoying thing or person.
SCRIPTURE
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1
"Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Mark 6:50
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you."
I Peter 4:12
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
God did not promise us that we would live in a "rose garden" when we became Christians. In this life we will have trials. Everyone does, but Christians have God's promise that He will go with us through the trials.
Paul suffered many trials on his missionary journeys. He was beaten. He was thrown in prison. While preaching in Macedonia and testifying to the Jews, the Jews became so abusive to him that Paul just gave up on them. It was then that the Lord appeared to him and said: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent, for I am with you." (Acts 18:9-10). As a result Paul stayed there for a year and a half continuing to preach the word of God.
Life for most people today is a series of trials. We do not know how stormy today will be but we do know that we will face trials. But one thing we are certain of is that if we have Jesus in our lives, our day will be victorious and our future is secure. Jesus has not failed us in the past and He will not fail us today or in all our tomorrows.
Perhaps your world has collapsed. It may be a deep personal loss, a tragedy in your family, a loss of a job, a financial setback or even a family spat. Jesus is bigger then any crises you might face today. He can rebuild your life. God can turn any trial into an opportunity. All you have to do is let God do His thing through your life. Reading God's Word and praying are the keys to conquering trials.
No trial is too large for God not to intervene and no person is too small for God to give His attention to. We are reminded that during trials in our lives when we leave it all for Him we have found that is when God prepares to do something wonderful through our lives He always begins it with a trial or difficulty. When God plans to do something very wonderful through us, He begins with an impossibility.
Happiness keeps you sweet, TRIALS KEEP YOU STRONG, sorrows keep you human, failures keep you humble, success keeps you glowing, BUT only GOD keeps you going.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PRAYER
Thank You dear Lord that Your Word assures us that You are with us through every trial that we may face today. Help us not to be fearful when a trial comes our way. Give us the courage we need today to stand tall in honoring You in all we do. Protect our family in all of the activities we have and help us to live a life that honors and glorifies Your Son.
August 8, 2010
Patience: August 5, 2010
Today's Word for Thursday August 5, 2010
PATIENCE
DEFINITION
The bearing of provocation; misfortune or pain without complaint; ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay; quiet; steady; even tempered.
SCRIPTURE
"Make haste to help me O Lord." Psalm 70:1
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
In the first verse above, David showed his lack of patience. In the second verse Isaiah relates to us that we need to learn to wait upon the Lord. Like David we do not like to wait. We dislike long lines at the super market, traffic jams, waiting to eat at a restaurant and even waiting for a friend or family member.
We live in a day when everyone wants instant gratification. We want everything now. When we pray and ask God for something, if it does not happen right away, we are like David. We say, "Hurry up Lord and answer my prayer." Patience requires perseverance. In James 1:2 to 4, James tells us to "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops patience. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Waiting for God to answer a prayer can cause us to doubt. Is God really listening? Does He hear our prayers? We can be assured that God does answer our prayers. His timetable is not the same as ours but His timing is always perfect. Waiting may test our faith, but learning to have patience is part of becoming a mature Christian and being what God wants us to be.
In our family it is a known fact that I [Ken] do not like to wait and basically I am very impatient. It is my nature to want to have things done yesterday. Fortunately she (Dottie) is a perfect balance because she is always very patient. As I (Ken) have grown older I have worked hard to try to be more patient. Through this exercise I have realized the importance of balancing my emotional impatience with what God wants me to do spiritually - wait upon Him.
Several times we have been amused when we think of a statement that the great preacher of years ago said in a sermon on patience. His illustration was completed when he said: By perseverance the snail reached the ark. Now that is patience.
Patience brings on success. Success is largely a matter of patience to persevere and endure until the end.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, give me patience today and help me to wait upon You to renew my strength. Help me to be patient with all those I will be with today. Help our family to be patient with one another. Give our family today the kind of patience that You will honor by allowing us to run and not be weary and to walk and not be faint.
PATIENCE
DEFINITION
The bearing of provocation; misfortune or pain without complaint; ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay; quiet; steady; even tempered.
SCRIPTURE
"Make haste to help me O Lord." Psalm 70:1
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
In the first verse above, David showed his lack of patience. In the second verse Isaiah relates to us that we need to learn to wait upon the Lord. Like David we do not like to wait. We dislike long lines at the super market, traffic jams, waiting to eat at a restaurant and even waiting for a friend or family member.
We live in a day when everyone wants instant gratification. We want everything now. When we pray and ask God for something, if it does not happen right away, we are like David. We say, "Hurry up Lord and answer my prayer." Patience requires perseverance. In James 1:2 to 4, James tells us to "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops patience. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Waiting for God to answer a prayer can cause us to doubt. Is God really listening? Does He hear our prayers? We can be assured that God does answer our prayers. His timetable is not the same as ours but His timing is always perfect. Waiting may test our faith, but learning to have patience is part of becoming a mature Christian and being what God wants us to be.
In our family it is a known fact that I [Ken] do not like to wait and basically I am very impatient. It is my nature to want to have things done yesterday. Fortunately she (Dottie) is a perfect balance because she is always very patient. As I (Ken) have grown older I have worked hard to try to be more patient. Through this exercise I have realized the importance of balancing my emotional impatience with what God wants me to do spiritually - wait upon Him.
Several times we have been amused when we think of a statement that the great preacher of years ago said in a sermon on patience. His illustration was completed when he said: By perseverance the snail reached the ark. Now that is patience.
Patience brings on success. Success is largely a matter of patience to persevere and endure until the end.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, give me patience today and help me to wait upon You to renew my strength. Help me to be patient with all those I will be with today. Help our family to be patient with one another. Give our family today the kind of patience that You will honor by allowing us to run and not be weary and to walk and not be faint.
Caring: August 4, 2010
Today's Word for Wednesday August 4, 2010
CARING
DEFINITION
A troubled state of mind; a cause of worry or concern to devote great care to ones work; protection; charge; to be concerned; to desire to make provision; to watch over.
SCRIPTURE
"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse then an unbeliever." I Timothy 5:8
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
These scriptures remind us that as parents we have not only a physical responsibility but also a spiritual responsibility to care for those in our family. There are also many references in God's Word telling us of our responsibility to CARE for the orphans, the widows, the hungry, the poor and the needy.
God instructed the children of Israel under Moses, when they were wandering in the desert, that they were to take care of their families, and not only their families but also the widows, the fatherless and their neighbors. You may be thinking that caring like this is not an easy task -- and it is not, but the closer you are to God, the more you will have a heart for others and God will show His love through you if you will only ask.
Loving and caring for others should be our major life's work and caring for those of our "own house" is our highest and holiest work of all.
All of our lives we have had, what we consider to have been, the privilege to work with missions where we have been able to CARE for the poor and needy. It began over 53 years ago when we were in Korea with the assignment to set up over 145 orphanages to take care of the "GI" babies after the Korean War. It continued then for us in later years as we cared for the children living in the slums and in refugee camps in Africa. We will never forget caring for over 10,000 children that we saw living on top of a massive garbage dump in the Philippians.
Our hearts were broken when we saw children in Honduras dying with cancer with no medical equipment or medicine in the country to help them. We could have but one response which was to get to them equipment and medicine to show that we cared for them. These few examples, we pray, will be enough to challenge you to care for someone you meet today that has a need, someone that needs your love and a word of encouragement, and someone who is waiting for you to CARE for them.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PRAYER
Make this a special day for me today, dear Lord, by leading me to someone that needs to be cared for. Soften my heart and allow me to care just like You cared for this world that we live in. Thank You for the many blessings that You have given and continue to give my family. But for the grace of God, I realize that we could even have been these children living in Africa, Korea or Honduras looking for someone to care for us. Thank You Lord for who You are and I praise You for being my Lord and my Savior.
CARING
DEFINITION
A troubled state of mind; a cause of worry or concern to devote great care to ones work; protection; charge; to be concerned; to desire to make provision; to watch over.
SCRIPTURE
"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse then an unbeliever." I Timothy 5:8
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
These scriptures remind us that as parents we have not only a physical responsibility but also a spiritual responsibility to care for those in our family. There are also many references in God's Word telling us of our responsibility to CARE for the orphans, the widows, the hungry, the poor and the needy.
God instructed the children of Israel under Moses, when they were wandering in the desert, that they were to take care of their families, and not only their families but also the widows, the fatherless and their neighbors. You may be thinking that caring like this is not an easy task -- and it is not, but the closer you are to God, the more you will have a heart for others and God will show His love through you if you will only ask.
Loving and caring for others should be our major life's work and caring for those of our "own house" is our highest and holiest work of all.
All of our lives we have had, what we consider to have been, the privilege to work with missions where we have been able to CARE for the poor and needy. It began over 53 years ago when we were in Korea with the assignment to set up over 145 orphanages to take care of the "GI" babies after the Korean War. It continued then for us in later years as we cared for the children living in the slums and in refugee camps in Africa. We will never forget caring for over 10,000 children that we saw living on top of a massive garbage dump in the Philippians.
Our hearts were broken when we saw children in Honduras dying with cancer with no medical equipment or medicine in the country to help them. We could have but one response which was to get to them equipment and medicine to show that we cared for them. These few examples, we pray, will be enough to challenge you to care for someone you meet today that has a need, someone that needs your love and a word of encouragement, and someone who is waiting for you to CARE for them.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PRAYER
Make this a special day for me today, dear Lord, by leading me to someone that needs to be cared for. Soften my heart and allow me to care just like You cared for this world that we live in. Thank You for the many blessings that You have given and continue to give my family. But for the grace of God, I realize that we could even have been these children living in Africa, Korea or Honduras looking for someone to care for us. Thank You Lord for who You are and I praise You for being my Lord and my Savior.
Kindness: August 3, 2010
Today's Word for Tuesday August 3, 2010
KINDNESS
DEFINITION
Considerate; helpfulness; goodness; benevolence; friendliness; mercifulness; the state or quality of being kind; a kind act; favor; kind behavior; friendly feeling.
SCRIPTURE
"He who restrains his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19
"Hatred stirs up strife, but kindness [love] covers all sins" Proverbs 10:12
"But if you love those that love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those that love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. So love your enemies, do good, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most high. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful [kind], just as your father also is merciful."
Luke 6:32-33, 35-36
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
As you read the above scriptures, did you notice that when you show love you show kindness? But you must not only love those that love you but you also must love your enemies as God so loved the world. That makes it much harder, doesn't it?
Emily Dickinson once said: "Some say that a word is dead when it is said. I say it just begins to live that day." Nothing can hurt more then a harsh word. The words we say may have many types of consequences. As Christians we need to constantly ask God to give us words of kindness to all we meet. We also need to show kindness by our actions even to those who wish us harm.
Our actions and our words need to reflect the heart of Jesus who showed His mercy and kindness toward us when He paid the ultimate price to come to our rescue when we needed Him the most. Our comments and our complaints may stick with the hearer for decades. Unkind words once spoken can never be taken back. My [Dottie] mother admonished me that if I could not say something nice it would be better to say nothing at all.
Down through the years I [Ken] have numerous times mispronounced words particularly Spanish ones in front of my children. They never let me live them down. Our six children, and now even their spouses and our grand children, never forget these mispronounced words and year after year at family functions those words come back at me, mispronounced just like I said them. It is done in fun so my response has always been to laugh with them, but if I chose to be hurt then the family would no doubt react differently. The point is that words do stick with the hearer for decades.
Several years ago I was having lunch with a Christian leader who was President of a ministry. We were talking about the past when he reminded me that we had met close to 45 years ago and we had had a lengthy conversation about the value of investing our lives in Christian ministries. He thanked me several times during our recent visit, for being so kind to listen to him and to respond to his needs. Kindness sometimes is just giving some time and listening. He went on to say that the conversation we had made a lasting impression on his life. I took the time to be kind to him at a time when he was searching for God's will in his life.
Words of kindness and encouragement that are given may not seem much when given, but so many times kind words are never forgotten. Hurtful harsh words make a deep impression and are most difficult to forget. As Christians we need to make sure our words are at all times words of kindness and encouragement.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PRAYER
Thank You dear Lord for the opportunity You give us to serve You today. Help our family to show kindness to those whom we meet. Help us to restrain our lips when some word or thought hurts us. Lead us to respond by being kind and loving just as You have told us in Your Word. Thank you for teaching us to help the poor, the rich, the sick and the healthy just as You so loved us. May the joy of the Lord show forth in our words and deeds.
KINDNESS
DEFINITION
Considerate; helpfulness; goodness; benevolence; friendliness; mercifulness; the state or quality of being kind; a kind act; favor; kind behavior; friendly feeling.
SCRIPTURE
"He who restrains his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19
"Hatred stirs up strife, but kindness [love] covers all sins" Proverbs 10:12
"But if you love those that love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those that love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. So love your enemies, do good, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most high. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful [kind], just as your father also is merciful."
Luke 6:32-33, 35-36
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
As you read the above scriptures, did you notice that when you show love you show kindness? But you must not only love those that love you but you also must love your enemies as God so loved the world. That makes it much harder, doesn't it?
Emily Dickinson once said: "Some say that a word is dead when it is said. I say it just begins to live that day." Nothing can hurt more then a harsh word. The words we say may have many types of consequences. As Christians we need to constantly ask God to give us words of kindness to all we meet. We also need to show kindness by our actions even to those who wish us harm.
Our actions and our words need to reflect the heart of Jesus who showed His mercy and kindness toward us when He paid the ultimate price to come to our rescue when we needed Him the most. Our comments and our complaints may stick with the hearer for decades. Unkind words once spoken can never be taken back. My [Dottie] mother admonished me that if I could not say something nice it would be better to say nothing at all.
Down through the years I [Ken] have numerous times mispronounced words particularly Spanish ones in front of my children. They never let me live them down. Our six children, and now even their spouses and our grand children, never forget these mispronounced words and year after year at family functions those words come back at me, mispronounced just like I said them. It is done in fun so my response has always been to laugh with them, but if I chose to be hurt then the family would no doubt react differently. The point is that words do stick with the hearer for decades.
Several years ago I was having lunch with a Christian leader who was President of a ministry. We were talking about the past when he reminded me that we had met close to 45 years ago and we had had a lengthy conversation about the value of investing our lives in Christian ministries. He thanked me several times during our recent visit, for being so kind to listen to him and to respond to his needs. Kindness sometimes is just giving some time and listening. He went on to say that the conversation we had made a lasting impression on his life. I took the time to be kind to him at a time when he was searching for God's will in his life.
Words of kindness and encouragement that are given may not seem much when given, but so many times kind words are never forgotten. Hurtful harsh words make a deep impression and are most difficult to forget. As Christians we need to make sure our words are at all times words of kindness and encouragement.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
PRAYER
Thank You dear Lord for the opportunity You give us to serve You today. Help our family to show kindness to those whom we meet. Help us to restrain our lips when some word or thought hurts us. Lead us to respond by being kind and loving just as You have told us in Your Word. Thank you for teaching us to help the poor, the rich, the sick and the healthy just as You so loved us. May the joy of the Lord show forth in our words and deeds.
Choices: August 2, 1010
Today's Word for Monday August 2, 2010
CHOICES
DEFINITION
The act or instance of choosing; selection; the right or power or opportunity to choose; a variety from which to choose.
SCRIPTURE
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." Joshua 24:15
"A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches." Proverbs 22:1
"Refuse evil and choose good." Isaiah 7:15
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
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. If we choose to serve God we have made a good and positive choice and will spend an eternity in Heaven. If we choose not to serve God, we have chosen to spend an eternity in hell. May we remind you that not making that choice is the same as rejecting God and your choice therefore is not to serve God. This should be an easy choice to make but many find it very difficult.
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. If you as a parent have or are making bad choices in your life it is going to be impossible for you to teach your children how to make right choices. You need to change now, with the help of God, and let your children know by your words and actions that you are changing.
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 doing and what they are feeling.
Parents must make it a priority to spend time with their children so they know what is going on in their life. Do you know who your children are spending time with? Do you know where they are going and what they are doing?
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.
Isaiah tells us (Isaiah 7:15) that we have the choice to refuse evil and choose good or not to. Joshua tells us also that we choose whom we will serve. The choice is up to you.
Children are making choices today based on what they see their parents doing. With children, especially teenagers, what parents do has a greater influence on them than what a parent says. 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 sinful pleasure, that will affect their children and their grandchildren (Exodus 20:4-5). Parents who live by faith and honor God will have a strong influence for the positive on their children and grandchildren.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
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 in our 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.
CHOICES
DEFINITION
The act or instance of choosing; selection; the right or power or opportunity to choose; a variety from which to choose.
SCRIPTURE
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." Joshua 24:15
"A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches." Proverbs 22:1
"Refuse evil and choose good." Isaiah 7:15
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
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. If we choose to serve God we have made a good and positive choice and will spend an eternity in Heaven. If we choose not to serve God, we have chosen to spend an eternity in hell. May we remind you that not making that choice is the same as rejecting God and your choice therefore is not to serve God. This should be an easy choice to make but many find it very difficult.
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. If you as a parent have or are making bad choices in your life it is going to be impossible for you to teach your children how to make right choices. You need to change now, with the help of God, and let your children know by your words and actions that you are changing.
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 doing and what they are feeling.
Parents must make it a priority to spend time with their children so they know what is going on in their life. Do you know who your children are spending time with? Do you know where they are going and what they are doing?
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.
Isaiah tells us (Isaiah 7:15) that we have the choice to refuse evil and choose good or not to. Joshua tells us also that we choose whom we will serve. The choice is up to you.
Children are making choices today based on what they see their parents doing. With children, especially teenagers, what parents do has a greater influence on them than what a parent says. 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 sinful pleasure, that will affect their children and their grandchildren (Exodus 20:4-5). Parents who live by faith and honor God will have a strong influence for the positive on their children and grandchildren.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:21:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
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 in our 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.
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