MAY 12 2012. GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
PROVERB: He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 22:9.
PROMISE: The generous soul will be made rich. And he who waters will also be watered himself. Proverbs 11:25.
PRAISE: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3
May 13, 2012
Parenting: May 11, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012.
PARENTING
DEFINITION:
The rearing of children by parents; being a father or a mother that shows guidance to their child.
SCRIPTURE:
Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. Proverbs 19:18 (NLT)
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There are so many dysfunctional families today that we need to look at what God says about the responsibilities of parents. In Jeremiah 32: 18 we read that God will repay the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children. This unfortunately makes the children the victims of the sins of their fathers.
Jeremiah in these verses (17-19) speaks about generational cycles of sin. Unless someone in the family line makes a deliberate choice to change, sin and dysfunctional behavior will be passed from parent to child for many generations. This is just a confirmation of the principle of sowing and reaping.
But the opposite also is true. When parents pass down to their children standards and conduct that honors God and His Ten Commandments their children and children in future generations will be blessed of God if they stay true to what they were taught and learned.
We are seeing today the sad consequence of generations of parents failing to live according to God’s will which is reflected in the high percentage of marriages that end in divorce. Typically, it is the father who moves out of the house. When the father is not in the home it leaves a void of leadership in the lives of the children. It is the role of the father to be the spiritual leader of his family and to shape their perception of God. Depending on the type of role model a father is he can either draw his children to the Lord or drive them away.
Sometimes the easiest way to understand what we are saying is to look at negative examples to make that point. Here are five very typical examples for you to consider. (Taken from Charles Stanley’s “In Touch” magazine)
• The angry, unpredictable father instills fear in his children and teaches them by his actions that God is a tyrant who lashes out unexpectedly.
• A critical, demanding dad makes his kids feel inadequate. They see God as a strict task master who is never pleased.
• The uninvolved or absent father sends the message that his children are unimportant, and both he and God are too busy for them.
• A macho dad’s tough, uncaring nature leads his children to feel unloved and they in turn conclude that the Lord doesn’t love them either.
• A fault-finding or abusive father conveys that his children are worthless and God is full of condemnation.
A man with a Christ-like character provides children with a healthy emotional connection, not only to their earthly father but also to their heavenly Father.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
As a parent help me to be a Godly role model for my children so that by example my children are drawn to You. As I read Your Word open up the truth of Your Word so I can demonstrate the love and compassion of God not only to my children but to others I associate with each day.
PARENTING
DEFINITION:
The rearing of children by parents; being a father or a mother that shows guidance to their child.
SCRIPTURE:
Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. Proverbs 19:18 (NLT)
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There are so many dysfunctional families today that we need to look at what God says about the responsibilities of parents. In Jeremiah 32: 18 we read that God will repay the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children. This unfortunately makes the children the victims of the sins of their fathers.
Jeremiah in these verses (17-19) speaks about generational cycles of sin. Unless someone in the family line makes a deliberate choice to change, sin and dysfunctional behavior will be passed from parent to child for many generations. This is just a confirmation of the principle of sowing and reaping.
But the opposite also is true. When parents pass down to their children standards and conduct that honors God and His Ten Commandments their children and children in future generations will be blessed of God if they stay true to what they were taught and learned.
We are seeing today the sad consequence of generations of parents failing to live according to God’s will which is reflected in the high percentage of marriages that end in divorce. Typically, it is the father who moves out of the house. When the father is not in the home it leaves a void of leadership in the lives of the children. It is the role of the father to be the spiritual leader of his family and to shape their perception of God. Depending on the type of role model a father is he can either draw his children to the Lord or drive them away.
Sometimes the easiest way to understand what we are saying is to look at negative examples to make that point. Here are five very typical examples for you to consider. (Taken from Charles Stanley’s “In Touch” magazine)
• The angry, unpredictable father instills fear in his children and teaches them by his actions that God is a tyrant who lashes out unexpectedly.
• A critical, demanding dad makes his kids feel inadequate. They see God as a strict task master who is never pleased.
• The uninvolved or absent father sends the message that his children are unimportant, and both he and God are too busy for them.
• A macho dad’s tough, uncaring nature leads his children to feel unloved and they in turn conclude that the Lord doesn’t love them either.
• A fault-finding or abusive father conveys that his children are worthless and God is full of condemnation.
A man with a Christ-like character provides children with a healthy emotional connection, not only to their earthly father but also to their heavenly Father.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
As a parent help me to be a Godly role model for my children so that by example my children are drawn to You. As I read Your Word open up the truth of Your Word so I can demonstrate the love and compassion of God not only to my children but to others I associate with each day.
Finances: May 10, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY MAY 10, 2012.
FINANCES
DEFINITION:
Management of monetary affairs.
SCRIPTURE:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me on this, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will be not room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
As we look back to the years before we were married and then these 55 years of marriage, what we were taught about tithing and what we experienced as a result of faithful tithing has been one of the great blessings of our lives. Over the years we have had numerous conversations with our children and most recently with our grandchildren about finances. The conversations have basically begun with the question: “How did you make it on the amount of money you received?”
From our perspective, even though we had critical times of concern as to how we were going to make it financially, we always did. And we firmly believe that this happened continually in our lives because we always tithed a minimum of 10% to the Lords work.
We all know that the world is full of disorder and uncertainty, but as believers, we have the wonderful assurance that God is in absolute control of every situation. He created the heavens and the earth. He had a purpose and a plan, which He carried out with precision and order. Knowing this we can be certain that God has a plan for each one of us as believers and every aspect of our lives is not only under His scrutiny but also under His care.
One of those areas is our finances. If we follow God’s plan, He promises to manage our money. Now, that is quite a blessing and most believers do not take God up on His plan. Who do you think would be better at knowing how to handle our money, you or God?
His plan is simple. He promises that if we give Him the first part of all that we receive, a tithe (10%), He will provide for all of our needs. All we can tell you is that this is what we have done consistently without missing a day and God has kept His promise and met our every need. It has truly been amazing to see how God has taken us through many valleys and over many mountains.
When you see the promise that God has made us and the blessing that He promises us plus the unfailing faithfulness of the Promise Giver, what keeps you for obeying His command? The reason we have heard the most is unbelief. People say what if God does not come through? Others say what if I give it away and then do not have enough to pay my bills?
God’s response to this is, “Try Me.” God challenges us to put Him to the test. Everything we have comes from God. God’s test is that we give Him at least 10 percent, a tithe, to advance His Kingdom and to put our trust in Him to provide for our needs. God is faithful and He will bless us. God’s promise is not always material, but we will receive them, if not here and now, we will receive them in eternity.
The Lord is after your trust and what better way to test God and build your trust in Him is than through your finances.
We have been blessed to have had several visits to Israel. We have been to the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. These two bodies of water serve as an excellent example of two vivid financial plans. The Jordan is surrounded by trees and greenery but then around the Dead Sea nothing lives. When the water flows into the Dead Sea it stays there because there is no outlet. Soon the salts accumulate and poison the water.
The Dead Sea can be likened to the world’s financial system which is to accumulate and preserve all your wealth. This results in self-centered stagnation. Hoarding makes lives spiritually unfruitful and hinders the good works God wants to do.
The Lord’s financial plan is like the Jordan, a river that moves continually. As God’s provisions pass into our lives, we pass them on to others and God continues to give. God supplies enough to live and enough to give.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
Help me to take the step of obedience today and to trust You to supply all my needs if I follow Your promise of giving the first fruits of what I earn to Your work.
FINANCES
DEFINITION:
Management of monetary affairs.
SCRIPTURE:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me on this, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will be not room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
As we look back to the years before we were married and then these 55 years of marriage, what we were taught about tithing and what we experienced as a result of faithful tithing has been one of the great blessings of our lives. Over the years we have had numerous conversations with our children and most recently with our grandchildren about finances. The conversations have basically begun with the question: “How did you make it on the amount of money you received?”
From our perspective, even though we had critical times of concern as to how we were going to make it financially, we always did. And we firmly believe that this happened continually in our lives because we always tithed a minimum of 10% to the Lords work.
We all know that the world is full of disorder and uncertainty, but as believers, we have the wonderful assurance that God is in absolute control of every situation. He created the heavens and the earth. He had a purpose and a plan, which He carried out with precision and order. Knowing this we can be certain that God has a plan for each one of us as believers and every aspect of our lives is not only under His scrutiny but also under His care.
One of those areas is our finances. If we follow God’s plan, He promises to manage our money. Now, that is quite a blessing and most believers do not take God up on His plan. Who do you think would be better at knowing how to handle our money, you or God?
His plan is simple. He promises that if we give Him the first part of all that we receive, a tithe (10%), He will provide for all of our needs. All we can tell you is that this is what we have done consistently without missing a day and God has kept His promise and met our every need. It has truly been amazing to see how God has taken us through many valleys and over many mountains.
When you see the promise that God has made us and the blessing that He promises us plus the unfailing faithfulness of the Promise Giver, what keeps you for obeying His command? The reason we have heard the most is unbelief. People say what if God does not come through? Others say what if I give it away and then do not have enough to pay my bills?
God’s response to this is, “Try Me.” God challenges us to put Him to the test. Everything we have comes from God. God’s test is that we give Him at least 10 percent, a tithe, to advance His Kingdom and to put our trust in Him to provide for our needs. God is faithful and He will bless us. God’s promise is not always material, but we will receive them, if not here and now, we will receive them in eternity.
The Lord is after your trust and what better way to test God and build your trust in Him is than through your finances.
We have been blessed to have had several visits to Israel. We have been to the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. These two bodies of water serve as an excellent example of two vivid financial plans. The Jordan is surrounded by trees and greenery but then around the Dead Sea nothing lives. When the water flows into the Dead Sea it stays there because there is no outlet. Soon the salts accumulate and poison the water.
The Dead Sea can be likened to the world’s financial system which is to accumulate and preserve all your wealth. This results in self-centered stagnation. Hoarding makes lives spiritually unfruitful and hinders the good works God wants to do.
The Lord’s financial plan is like the Jordan, a river that moves continually. As God’s provisions pass into our lives, we pass them on to others and God continues to give. God supplies enough to live and enough to give.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
Help me to take the step of obedience today and to trust You to supply all my needs if I follow Your promise of giving the first fruits of what I earn to Your work.
Truth: May 9, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 9, 2012.
TRUTH
DEFINITION:
A fact; reality.
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There is so much deceit and deception in this world that it is very difficult at times to know if you are hearing or reading the truth. One of the most difficult situations in the lives of parents today is to know whether their children, their spouse or their neighbors are telling the truth. This is very unfortunate, but it is true because of the evil and sinful nature of the world we live in.
There is a way to build truth into your life. The one sure way is to become grounded in the scriptures. In other words to read the Bible daily, study the passage you read and then pray that God would make that portion relative to you.
A good illustration that we want to share with you is comparing learning the truth from the Bible to learning the details of the job where you are working. When you begin a new job or a new project at home or at school, you are trained. You are given detailed instructions as to how you are to accomplish what is expected of you. You read the orders over and over, if necessary, until you fully understand what you are expected to do.
The same is true when you study the Bible. To find the truth read it over and over until God makes it clear to you what is the truth that you are looking for. Some people that believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior have accepted erroneous ideas as truth because they have not incorporated the truth that is written in the scriptures into their hearts and mind.
You need a real desire and a solid commitment if you are going to let God’s Word shape your mind, emotions and will. The way to begin is to think of an area of need in your life and then find a passage in the Bible that addresses that need. For example if someone has hurt you look for verses on forgiveness. You can look in a concordance or in the subject section in the back of your Bible under the word forgiveness.
As you read these verses look for instructions from God and then begin to do what He says. The awesome thing about the Bible is that there is no area of life or human experience that the Bible does not address. If we let the truths of the scriptures fill our minds, guard our emotions and influence our conduct, God will richly reward us with His blessings on our lives. By reading and meditating on His Word you will learn to understand His ways and the more you know Him the more you will love Him.
What better way is there to find the truth in today’s world. A life grounded in truth, as given to us in God’s Word, is powerful and you will learn spiritual discernment which will guide your choices and guard you against deception.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
Help me to build truth into my life so that I can know that You are guarding my emotions and feelings and so You can overpower whatever may be holding me captive.
TRUTH
DEFINITION:
A fact; reality.
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There is so much deceit and deception in this world that it is very difficult at times to know if you are hearing or reading the truth. One of the most difficult situations in the lives of parents today is to know whether their children, their spouse or their neighbors are telling the truth. This is very unfortunate, but it is true because of the evil and sinful nature of the world we live in.
There is a way to build truth into your life. The one sure way is to become grounded in the scriptures. In other words to read the Bible daily, study the passage you read and then pray that God would make that portion relative to you.
A good illustration that we want to share with you is comparing learning the truth from the Bible to learning the details of the job where you are working. When you begin a new job or a new project at home or at school, you are trained. You are given detailed instructions as to how you are to accomplish what is expected of you. You read the orders over and over, if necessary, until you fully understand what you are expected to do.
The same is true when you study the Bible. To find the truth read it over and over until God makes it clear to you what is the truth that you are looking for. Some people that believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior have accepted erroneous ideas as truth because they have not incorporated the truth that is written in the scriptures into their hearts and mind.
You need a real desire and a solid commitment if you are going to let God’s Word shape your mind, emotions and will. The way to begin is to think of an area of need in your life and then find a passage in the Bible that addresses that need. For example if someone has hurt you look for verses on forgiveness. You can look in a concordance or in the subject section in the back of your Bible under the word forgiveness.
As you read these verses look for instructions from God and then begin to do what He says. The awesome thing about the Bible is that there is no area of life or human experience that the Bible does not address. If we let the truths of the scriptures fill our minds, guard our emotions and influence our conduct, God will richly reward us with His blessings on our lives. By reading and meditating on His Word you will learn to understand His ways and the more you know Him the more you will love Him.
What better way is there to find the truth in today’s world. A life grounded in truth, as given to us in God’s Word, is powerful and you will learn spiritual discernment which will guide your choices and guard you against deception.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
Help me to build truth into my life so that I can know that You are guarding my emotions and feelings and so You can overpower whatever may be holding me captive.
Perseverance: May 8, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY MAY 8, 2012.
PERSEVERANCE
DEFINITION:
Persist in something undertaken; to diligently persist
in the pursuit of something in spite of obstacles or opposition.
SCRIPTURE:
Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character;
and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4.
LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE:
Have you ever watched a bird try to build a nest in a
tree? We have watched as a bird would carry dry grass and twigs, one piece at a
time into the spot in the tree that they had chosen for their nest. It is
painstaking work and takes perseverance, but the bird perseveres until the nest
is built. Sometimes strong winds blow the nest away and soon the bird must
begin the process all over again.
The perseverance of the birds in building their nests
is inspiring. You can almost catch yourself cheering for the bird because it is
a huge project for a small bird and yet they do not stop until the job is done.
We just had a humming bird build a nest in a bush in front of our house. We
have watched as the two little eggs have hatched and the mother bird faithfully
perseveres in caring for her tiny babies.
Trying to live a Christ-honoring life in the world we
live in today can leave us frustrated and discouraged. Many people today are
facing insurmountable hardships including the loss of a job, the loss of a home
and families that are in great turmoil.
Satan is alive and well in this sinful world. We can
expect trouble and tribulation, especially as a believer. In times of
difficulty it is easy to think that God has forgotten us. This is not the case.
God never forgets us. Often when times are good it is we who tend to forget
God. It is when times are tough that we most need to depend on God to help us
through our difficulties.
God will empower us to keep on going even when we
cannot see the resolution of our problems. In many situations God is using a
seemingly insurmountable challenge in our life to produce perseverance. And as
the verse says, that we have written above, perseverance will produce in us
character and through character, hope.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9 not to
grow “weary while doing good.” Paul then goes on to tell us not to give up. We
are to persevere in everything we do and put all that we are going through in
His hands and He will get us through every situation.
When others around you suggest that you give up on a
situation do not let them discourage you. Put everything in God’s hands then
hope will whisper to you, “Try one more time.” Try it and we can assure you God
will not fail you.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten
Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
Help me get through the trials that I may face today
that have burdened me down and make me consider giving up. Give me perseverance
to overcome strife and keep me faithful to You for the assurance that I have
that with Christ I can have victory and that Satan cannot defeat me.
Motive: May 7, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MAY 7, 2012.
MOTIVE
DEFINITION:
Intention; a determining impulse; the goal or object of a person’s action.
SCRIPTURE:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23-24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Have you ever thought that you could be too helpful to someone? Have you really thought about your true motive when you reach out to help a person in need? Our helpfulness can actually make life more difficult for the person we are trying to help, especially if our motive is wrong. Your response probably is that that is impossible. Let us explain what we think.
If you are bothersome to someone that you are helping by being too available to the point of being intrusive you could be hurting instead of helping your relationship with that person. Possibly you are smothering, manipulative or controlling when you try to help that person. What we do to help others should never stem from a desire to make ourselves look good.
This is why we need to take a real good look at our motive as to why we are helping someone. In Proverbs 21:2 it reads, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” We encourage you to look carefully at your reasons for helping someone before you act. Does your desire to help come from a pure heart?
We should always pray first, for God’s direction. In prayer we can ask God to show us any way we are hurting or hindering others. The scripture we have written above would be a good prayer for you to pray. God will answer your prayer.
If you have a concern that you may be over stepping your welcome with someone, we suggest you ask God to help you show love to that person that “suffers long and is kind --- and is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil,” as it is written in I Corinthians 13:4-5.
Keep asking the Lord to help you to show love with pure motives and for the good of others and not yourself.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
Help me, Lord to act and think today with proper motives. It is my prayer that You will reveal the sins in my life, that would affect my motives, so that I can help others with pure motives and with the love in my heart that only You can give.
MOTIVE
DEFINITION:
Intention; a determining impulse; the goal or object of a person’s action.
SCRIPTURE:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23-24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Have you ever thought that you could be too helpful to someone? Have you really thought about your true motive when you reach out to help a person in need? Our helpfulness can actually make life more difficult for the person we are trying to help, especially if our motive is wrong. Your response probably is that that is impossible. Let us explain what we think.
If you are bothersome to someone that you are helping by being too available to the point of being intrusive you could be hurting instead of helping your relationship with that person. Possibly you are smothering, manipulative or controlling when you try to help that person. What we do to help others should never stem from a desire to make ourselves look good.
This is why we need to take a real good look at our motive as to why we are helping someone. In Proverbs 21:2 it reads, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” We encourage you to look carefully at your reasons for helping someone before you act. Does your desire to help come from a pure heart?
We should always pray first, for God’s direction. In prayer we can ask God to show us any way we are hurting or hindering others. The scripture we have written above would be a good prayer for you to pray. God will answer your prayer.
If you have a concern that you may be over stepping your welcome with someone, we suggest you ask God to help you show love to that person that “suffers long and is kind --- and is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil,” as it is written in I Corinthians 13:4-5.
Keep asking the Lord to help you to show love with pure motives and for the good of others and not yourself.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is the last of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:17.
You shall not covet.
PRAYER:
Help me, Lord to act and think today with proper motives. It is my prayer that You will reveal the sins in my life, that would affect my motives, so that I can help others with pure motives and with the love in my heart that only You can give.
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