The Birth of our LORD

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

While I was once again thanking Father God for His Son – it came to me that one reason Jesus came into this world as a baby being born, born of a virgin at that, is so that we all would have it not only recorded in history, but remembered each year and celebrated.

 

If Jesus was just a man then why would His birth be celebrated all over the world each year? Jesus was more than just a wise and moral man. He is not like any man that gets celebrated for what they did for people. Do we give gifts to each other on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday? Kids get the day off but I’m sure they aren’t celebrating at home for what this great American president did in ending slavery.

 

I’ve been talking to my Father God about His Son, asking when Jesus, after coming into our world, knew His mission for coming into the world. They all (the God-head) agreed in Heaven prior to Christ’s birth on earth, but I’m pretty sure that as a newborn baby or a curious toddler – Jesus wasn’t thinking about His death.

 

I wonder when Mary and Joseph started talking to Jesus about what God had told them about who Jesus is. When did Jesus first understand? Was it when He was almost 30 years old when He came to be baptized by His cousin John, and when the Holy Spirit (the dove) ascended on Him? None of us really understand our God-given purpose until the Lord anoints us with His Holy Spirit.

 

Did Jesus make the connection that He was the ‘fulfillment of the Scriptures;’ the Scriptures that Israel’s leaders read each Sabbath in the temple about “the Christ?” We know from reading the Gospels that Jesus once said to them that He was the fulfillment of what they had just read in Isaiah about the Savior of the world. We also know the reaction it got from the Pharisees and Sadducees because they “did not recognize the time of His coming.” These blind guides of God’s people (as Jesus called them), and Christ’s own brethren, called for His arrest and then felt relieved when Jesus died on the cross. For us it is a “bitter-sweet” taste because if Jesus wasn’t born, and He didn’t die as He did, then we would have no salvation and no hope for peace on earth – good will towards men. Doomed to eternal damnation!

 

I enjoy making a big deal over the birth of my children and grandchildren. To me their birthdays are very important to celebrate. And I also believe that Father God wants a BIG DEAL made over the birth of His Son each year; not with ‘material’ gifts but with our gifts of praise for what He’s done and still plans to do according to His promises. Giving Him our humble renewing of our vows to Him, because as sinful humans we tend to forget that Jesus is our “first love,” the most important person in our life. We give Him gifts every time we share HIS GIFT OF LIFE with others, and pray for people to believe.

 

Do you realize that there has never been anything or anyone written about – as much as Jesus Christ? Not one person has had as many books written about them as the Son of God has. Not any event that has ever happened on the earth has been written about as much as the life of Jesus Christ.

 

The one thing I simply love in how Jesus came into our sin-sick world as a helpless baby is that we get to remember Him each year for His ‘miraculous’ birth and how our Father God protected that whole process from when He seeded into Mary the physical life of His Son – all the way through to Christ’s resurrection back to His Father, after His death on the Cross.

 

Each year we get to celebrate Him. How many birthdays of any of our dead loved ones are celebrated each year? I don’t know anyone who celebrates the birth of a dead loved one. Most people ‘remember’ the death of their loved ones but they don’t ‘celebrate’ the day. But we do celebrate the death of our blessed Savior, and why? Because He opened the way through His physical life, His death and resurrection for those who honestly and fully believe in Him, to live with Him forever.

 

We all love remembering the birthdays of our loved ones, but how much more should we show our JOY and PRAISES over the birth of the Savior of the world? Imagine how it hurts our Father God to hear us make such a BIG deal over Santa Claus and to go into debt buying gifts for each other, without ever acknowledging His Son as He deserves.

 

I love what this Christmas card says and it’s ours from Mike and I – to you all:
JESUS – No longer a babe in a manger low

Not just a figure from history….

No longer the Nazarene carpenter

Nor just that teacher from Galilee….

For Christ is risen and reigns on high in glorious majesty!

So now His redeemed shall worship Him throughout eternity.

Celebrating our glorious coming KING of Kings

with you this Christmas season!

Importance of Money

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Matthew 25:14-18 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”

 

To do what we have got to do in the world today – we need money. To evangelize the world, to be involved in the cultural mandate that God has given us – it will take money. So when it comes to money we cannot be neutral.

 

We know from Paul’s teaching that the love of money is the root of all evil. However, money is essential to get by in this world. We know that money is important because we see how often money is mentioned in the Word of God.

 

Do we work for money or do we have money work for us? There is a big difference. There is a proverb that says, “Under the mattress stash is a recipe for financial disaster.” And Jesus told us to put our money to work.

 

The word for money in God’s language (Hebrew) is the word “Keceph.” It consists of three letter’s: Peh, Sameech and Kaf. According to Rabbi Lapin the first letter ‘Kaf’ and the last letter ‘Peh’ together mean ‘both the palm of the hand and the sole of the foot.’ Interesting!

 

In other words, this brings out the two methods of adding value to an object or money. With the hand we work, and with the sole of our foot we transport. These two would go together in adding value to an object. However, the middle letter for the Hebrew word ‘money’ brings out how to maximize its value.

 

It is interesting Rabbi Lapin brings out that this middle letter “Sameech” does not appear until the second chapter of Genesis regarding the rivers surrounding the Garden of Eden. In other words, this letter shows up with a word meaning “encircle, or surround.”

 

Genesis 2:13 “The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush.”

 

What does this mean in regards to money? We are to circulate money and not put it under the mattress which is “a recipe for financial disaster,” as the proverb states. In other words, money gains in value when it is circulated: loaned and invested, like it says in the New Testament we “put it to work.”

 

God is showing us how the world really works regarding money. When money is hoarded instead of being put to work it leads to a slowing down of the economic system and brings about low unemployment, the bread lines for the poor, recession (economy beginning to collapse), which leads to a ‘depression’ (collapse of economy) that often lasts for several years.

 

So, money that is given through subsidies (socialism) is not putting money to work, but working towards what is known as “egalitarianism” (equal outcome, classlessness). It is the distribution of money which is not wise because it does not put money to work. In socialism government works to be heavily involved with the people’s money because it will take a strong power to take from those ‘who have’ to give to those ‘who do not have.’

 

My question is: Is socialism biblical, or godly, in regard to how money is used?

 

With ‘capitalism’ it is different than ‘socialism,’ because little government is involved in how our money is used, and property is privately owned and protected by law. Capitalism is driven by self-interest, and the people putting their money to work. Like Adam Smith, the 18th century philosopher and father of modern economics said: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”

 

Competition is a key element for putting money to work, and brings about social welfare benefitting the producers and consumers. A key element in capitalism is the freedom to choose and compete. One of the most powerful things that God has given us is a ‘free will’ and the power to ‘choose.’

 

I go back to what the Hebrew word for money means and Jesus’ interpretation of it in Matthew 25:14-30. The disciples that put their money to work received praise from the Lord, but the one who does nothing with what God gives him received condemnation.

 

 

 

 

 

True Meaning of Christmas

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

The true story of Christmas, written around 700 years before His birth.

 

Isaiah 53:2-12 NLT:
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected- a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

 

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

 

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

 

So this Christmas when you are opening gifts, stop and think of this gift that Jesus gave you, and ask yourself this question, “Have I forgotten to receive His gift of salvation?”

The Proverbs 31 Woman – Chapter 33 – Household Affairs

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

The woman God honors and crowns “watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” (Proverbs 31:27)

 

Watching over our household affairs as a wife and mother involves more than we may realize, but it is well within our ability and means. We can do far more than we think we can when we are doing the things that are good and right in the sight of God. Women should be very involved with all the things that concern their husbands, children and homes. The home of your family is your main priority in life as a wife and mother.

 

It is well within our ability and means to make the home, above all other places, the best place on earth for our family. God has given us the means with which to do so, but so often we do other things with what He’s given us.

 

As a young girl and young wife I never wanted to seek employment out in the world. I never understood why I didn’t have that motivation (as my mother and her husband wanted me to have). Then after I met Jesus and began to learn from God’s Word about my purpose as His daughter I understood why I was never motivated to work out in the world although I did. I had many different kinds of worldly jobs, but none of them were what I was meant to do with the wealth inside me. When I began doing what I was meant to do, I thrived! It fulfilled me.

 

I see so many girls and wives today wasting away because they do not understand their true purpose in life. The god of this world continues to blind eyes and lead people to live empty worthless lives. Most girls today are looking at the wrong role models and listening to the wrong teachers.

 

To be a wise manager of your household might mean that you stop pressing your husband on some issue and just submit to him and give the issue over to the Lord.

 

To be a wise manager of your home might mean you separate from a worldly friend who gossips and meddles, or from a demanding loved one because of how they want to control your time and resources. It might mean that you live with less worldly things, and from doing so many worldly things so that you can stay home and take care of your family and home. Home should be the best place on earth that your family has ever been.

 

Women that enjoy getting together to pray for their husbands and children are the good company you should keep as God’s daughters. To be your husband’s ‘true’ helpmate will be a battle that you must win, even daily, if you want a good stable marriage and godly children that will eventually make you both proud.

 

Most wives don’t know what their husband is going through each day, and sadly some of them really don’t care to know lest it take them away from something they would rather do. Your main priority is to make sure your husband comes home to a loving wife, thankful children and a peaceful well-kept home. No matter how you or your husband were brought up – you can still learn how to keep a peaceful clean organized home. It will feel like a fulltime job without pay, but your praise and reward will come in due time.

 

If you like to meddle, meddle at home where you have the ‘right’ to know and ask questions, and to be critical in a constructive way. Meddle with your own children; pry into their thought life to find out how they think and what their desires are. Ask questions to find out who their friends are and how they are conducting themselves around their friends. Most mothers don’t know what their children are faced with at school and what kind of company they are keeping.

 

If you’re duty-bound to criticize, then evaluate yourself as to your own intentions and work at home, and not someone else’s. When women get together to “chat” it’s inevitable that when words are many, sin is present. But, when women get together to “pray and build each other up” with the Word of God, the family and home is benefitted greatly.

 

As the wise manager of your household you should be aware of who your children are interacting with. They are ignorantly getting connected to threatening things to their person or purpose that they don’t see or understand. They are developing thought patterns and behavior patterns by who they are with and who they are being taught by. Your children are involved with people and dealing with things that you need to know about as a parent; that you need to be involved with for their sake whether they like or it not. There are people, places and teachers that your children need you to protect them from because of their strong influence on your children. God holds you responsible for what your children are taught and held accountable to by others. Children are first accountable to their parents, and then to God.

 

There are evil spirits that are at work around your husband and children (as well as yourself) that you need to be aware of as a wise manager of your household. I just wish I had not been so naïve when I was raising our four children. The older women should teach the younger women about the schemes of the devil against their marriage, children and home-life. What I see today are younger women shunning the wisdom and faith of older women. No wonder there is the rapid progression of broken marriages and dysfunctional families today within God’s church.

 

For a mother of ‘adult’ children it is hard to see things that grieve you and not say anything about it – until asked of course. I can’t tell you how many times I have found ‘prayer’ to be the perfect replacement for grief, anger, gossip, meddling and even for revenge. If we let it, prayer will teach us to be patient, understanding and hopeful.

 

There is no better way to watch over the affairs of your adult children after they move out of your home, marry and begin their own families – than to bring your foresight, grief or anger to our Father who knows how to prod and teach them in ways you never could.

 

To be a wise manager of your home and family might mean you quit the job or career that demands too much of your thoughts and time. It might mean you move to a smaller home and learn to live on less. It might mean that you stay with your foolish husband, instead of leaving him, and learn to be his godly helpmate praying for him like a mighty warrior. It might mean that you stop going to women’s social meetings at church, or out with your girlfriends who just wanna’ have fun. It might mean that you stop watching so much television or spending so much time with Facebook conversations. It might mean that you open your home to the Lord for His use with neighbors or needy persons and let your children be involved. It might mean that you pull your children out of the public school to team up with home-schooling moms. It might mean that you go on a ‘fast’ so you can hear what the Holy Spirit is trying to say to you. As a wife and mother your life is about family and home first. The devil is working against this!

 

Being a good manager of your household means that you help your husband with what God gave him to do as the provider, protector and spiritual leader of the family. Helping him does not mean that you do it for him when you don’t think he’s doing it, or doing it right. Helping him means that you pray for him and encourage him. You might not know how to encourage him or pray for him, but the Holy Spirit does. And the same goes for your children. What we often think our husband and children need from God, might not be what God sees that they need from Him. The Holy Spirit is our guide into all the truth. (John 16:13)

 

Fallacy: Little children need a social life outside their family. Truth: Little children don’t need a social life outside their family. Family is more than enough of a “social life” for any little child. It is harmful when children have too many people and voices in their lives. Before their circle of influence increases they need to know some things that they can only learn at home with their parents that truly love them and are looking out for their godly good. There’s more than enough challenges at home for their mental and physical abilities to be developed. Too much challenge too early in their lives is harmful, even for most teenagers. Ignore the propaganda that tells you otherwise.

 

Fallacy: Children need to be sent to public school, and the earlier the better. Truth: Children are to learn from their parents at home until they are ready to develop skills that their parents do not have. There is a firm foundation of truth and godliness that first needs to form within our children, to develop their value system and form their godly character before they learn anything else out in the world. Remember what our Lord taught about the house built on sinking sand verses the house build on solid rock!

 

“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell – and great was its fall.” Matthew 7:25-27

 

“The Lord will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:6

 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Proverbs 9:10-12

 

Children will either grow up to be a benefit to society or a burden to society. When you send your little one out of your watch and care each day – do you know what you are allowing to seed and start in him or her? Putting them outside your home and in someone else’s care each day forces them to turn to other people instead of to you their parent. They trust that where you send them is good and safe for them. It can cause them to depend on people that in God’s eyes they should not depend on. They can learn from the wrong people how to take liberties they shouldn’t have yet until they understand the consequence of taking that liberty. Wherever a child is placed each day, there they will learn, but it may not be the learning they should have, or at least not yet. The devil works to make us think we have God’s blessing, when we don’t.

 

God is watching over His Household and He strengthens and rewards the woman who does her best to watch over hers. The confidence her husband has in her empowers her all the more.

 

The family is the second greatest enjoyment in life. Our first enjoyment is our relationship with our Father God through Jesus Christ His Son.

Are We Givers or Takers?

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

 

Genesis 22:2 “Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’”

 

In Exodus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 it talks about a judge accepting a bribe. But what about a judge giving a gift. A judge while receiving something might look like he is accepting a bribe but what about him giving a gift?

 

According to Rabbi Daniel Lapin: “Ancient Jewish wisdom explains that when one person transfers something material to another, paradoxically, the giver tends to gain more affection for the recipient than the other way around.”

 

Didn’t Jesus say that it was better to give than to receive?

 

Ancient Jewish wisdom basically brings out that when we do give a gift or a favor that we have a subconscious tendency to like that person. We looked at the word ‘love’ in a previous letter and saw basically the Hebrew word is made of two shorter words – “I give.”

 

Daniel Lapin brings out that when the first time the word or concept is used in the Bible it is important. The first mention of love is Abraham and his love for his son Isaac. Genesis 22:2 “Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’”

 

There is a lesson for parents here. We as parents have given to our children our time, energy, resources, etc. and the question arises then: Who loves the most? This is why it is important for us to allow our children to give to us as soon as they are able to.

 

My youngest daughter was telling me about her seven-year-old daughter wanting to come and help in cooking, washing dishes, etc. This is good, because the daughter is building affection towards her mother. Sometimes we do not allow our children to do certain things because it might be somewhat inconvenient or we do not want to take the time, but by not allowing the child to help takes something away in the child/parent relationship that is very important.

 

You are building up your children’s affection towards you as well as building up their abilities to be responsible when you allow your children to be involved and to give. This also applies in other relationships as well – husbands and wives, coworkers, or those that you might feel alienated from, and by reaching out and giving to them feelings can begin to change.

 

I have seen this in my own life in regards to my wife. Since her stroke I have been put into the place of giving of my time, energy, etc. in order to meet her needs at this difficult time. In so doing I have found a more loving aspect towards my wife and a sense of truly wanting to meet her needs. In other words, I have found my relationship with my wife going into a deeper level.

 

So, the question is: Are we givers or takers?

The Proverbs 31 Woman – Chapter 32 – Fine Linen and Purple

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

“….she is clothed in fine linen and purple.”  Proverbs 31:22

As women we demand respect from the opposite sex in the way we dress, talk, behave socially and stand guard over our heart that we not fall to temptation and shame ourselves before our Father God. When I came to the Lord I needed to acknowledge and repent of living a promiscuous lifestyle, and then begin to live the life I was meant to live as the Lord got working in me.

 

Promiscuity: a lack of discrimination, entering into sexual intercourse indiscriminately or with many persons; morally confused.

 

I’d hate to have this said of me or of my daughter the way our heavenly Father describes worldly women: “She is shameless. She dresses like a prostitute and has crafty intent. She is loud and defiant. Her feet never stay at home. She lurks about; hangs out waiting for her prey. With persuasive words she seduces and leads her victim astray like an ox to the slaughter not knowing it will cost him his life. Her way is wicked leading down to the chambers of death.”

 

If you dress like a prostitute or a slob you will be recognized and treated as one. If you dress like a man and want to be treated like a man – you will be denied the many wonderful benefits of true femininity.

 

You don’t have to degrade yourself to get your boyfriend or husband’s attention and affection. If you are married to a man who expects you to act in a degrading way then start praying against that wicked mindset in him. God knows ‘exactly’ how to change his perspective and expectation of you. Let the Holy Spirit help you take your stand for virtue without a bit of compromise. That man will eventually see the light.

 

Ladies, getting face-lifts, tummy-tucks, breast enlargements and tattoos (to name a few physical adjustments) is all vain and insulting to our Creator and Father. (Leviticus 19:28) If you want to improve yourself then start with your soul. You might have some real issues with your body, but God expects us to come to Him first about it. He made you.

 

God does not expect his daughters to be sexy or seductive; not for their husbands or for anyone. He created the female gender distinctly feminine. God also created the male gender distinctly masculine, and for modern day women this seems to offend and annoy them – so they groom their boyfriends, husbands and their sons to be more feminine. Is it any wonder we have homosexuality running out of control?

 

Satan has men trapped in confusion. They have not understood what manhood really is and so they don’t understand what true femininity is or what marriage is all about either. Most guys go after the sexy girl for the sex they want, but when it comes to marriage a guy really does want a lady who has saved herself for him; one who has self-respect in the way she thinks, talks and behaves. If he doesn’t, then he’s not a real man. Self-respect in a woman is attractive to a real man.

 

The woman of great worth is as delicate and transparent as fine linen. Delicate: delightful to all the senses, soft and gentle, subtle, truthful, sincere, easily damaged, sensitive. Her motives are pure and seen as pure in how she conducts herself and treats others. She is honest and has nothing to hide; transparent. She lets her husband know how she feels, but she does it gently and without condemnation or judging. She quickly repents before her Father God, and gets right with others when she sins against them.

 

The virtuous woman sees herself, her husband and her children as royalty in God’s kingdom because God has said it’s so for those who worship Him and obey His Word.  The Proverbs 31 woman is highly valued for her noble thinking and godly ways. Therefore, she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Fine linen depicts the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:8) Purple is the color of royalty.

 

When He Shuts the Door

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

What is it about the Bible that scares people? Is it what is said that will happen to those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord? Is it that Jesus is coming again? Is it the fear of persecution if you follow Jesus and obey His instructions, and stand up for the truth?

 

People need to understand that Jesus will never grow weak of protecting His children, nor weary of providing for His children. Those who stand with Jesus in truth and righteousness will be given power and strength so they can walk in this wicked world and not get tired or fearful of living for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

But for those who do know Jesus Christ as their Savior and yet compromise His truth so that they can feel safe and secure in their time on earth will lose what they thought they had with Him. They will lose their children to the god of this world, to the enemies of Christ and evil workers of inequity. The children of those who shrink back from walking with Christ will reject the Word of God, and have no hope or joy for the future.

 

Jesus is calling to all those who want to be accepted by this world, to return to Him and obey His Word. Ask for His wisdom and power to live the life of faith, hope and love – before it’s too late; for the LORD says there is a time when the door will be shut.

What is Real Love?

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

1 John 3:16-17 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

 

Love is another word that is used quite frequently, but that I believe has lost its meaning. We say that we love so many things like our dog, cat, car, and the list could go on. We also say how we love our wives and children, but what does ‘love’ really mean?

 

This is where God’s language is so important in defining this word ‘love.’ Rabbi Daniel Lapin brings out that the word for love goes with giving, they go together. In other words, when I say that I love my wife it means I will give to my wife, having an overwhelming desire to give to her, and by doing so I am more fulfilled by her acceptance of my giving.

 

What did Paul have to say about this in Ephesians 5:25-29? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; to sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.”

 

How did Christ love the church? He gave His life for them. So, it is with husbands in regard to their wives. If a man says that he loves his wife – will he willingly and unselfishly give to her?

 

We see this coming out with Jacob and Rachel in Genesis 29:20-21. “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, ‘Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.”

 

Rabbi Lapin brings out that the second part of the Hebrew word for love is the word ‘give.’ Paul is bringing this out in Ephesians 5 where if we love our wives we will give to them.

 

This has been a lesson for me since my wife had an aneurysm and has been unable to do the duties that she used to do. In order for me to meet my obligation (again another word that goes along with love) I had to ‘give up’ certain things, or duties, so that I might ‘give’ to my wife according to what she needs.

 

One of the great verses of the Bible is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

 

 

 

 

Good Intentions

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Genesis 22:3 “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”

 

The word “early” in Hebrew is ‘shawkam’ can be taken to mean ‘shoulder a burden,’ but literally means to ‘load up’ like putting on the back of man or animal.

 

A phrase that we often hear is that “good intentions are like crying babies in the church; they must be carried out.” The start of this coming year will be like so many past years as we will come and make our resolutions, our good intentions, but will we carry them out?

 

We start out well, but then soon lose interest and fall by the wayside and our good intentions get put on the shelf. Why is this? Like Daniel Lapin says, “The nature of man is always down, like gravity it tries to keep us on the ground; so it is with our nature.”

 

When we see a plane in the air it is a beautiful thing and the reason it looks beautiful is because it is applying the laws of God. So, it is with us and when we reach back into the wisdom of God’s Word, we too can fly in the sense of carrying out our intentions. However, we become discouraged when we see that we fail in keeping our intentions. We find that procrastination is easier than pushing through or ‘shouldering the burden.’ Or, like the writer of the Hebrews says, that we have a tendency to drift with the flow rather than go against the current.

 

We often try to escape into drugs, alcohol, sex or something else, but this is not the answer. This is where Abraham in the Bible can teach us about perseverance, according to Rabbi Lapin. Abraham awoke early. We saw already that “he woke early” is related to the word for ‘shoulder.’ The two of them bring out the idea of ‘to shoulder a burden.’

 

What does this mean and how do we apply it to our situation? Abraham woke early to carry out, or shoulder the burden, that God had given him. WE too must wake early to carry out our good intentions (or what God is giving us to do).

 

By waking early to do what must be done (with good intentions) we begin to experience life more fully and a sense that we are overcoming.

 

Early in my Christian ministry I was with a team in Spain. One brother came to me and told me in no uncertain terms that if I did not get up early and have my quiet time that I would not be able to make it. This spoke to me and I decided early in my Christian life and ministry that I would wake up early and meet with the Lord for my instructions for the day, and carry my burden for the day.

 

Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

So, like Abraham who woke up early to carry out his burden, and in this case Abraham found God helping him by supplying a substitute sacrifice in place of Isaac his son.

 

So it is with us when we wake up early to be with God so we can carry out our burden – that we too have a ‘burden carrier’ with us: THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Proverbs 31 Woman – Chapter 31 – Clothed in Love

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When God made Adam and Eve feel ‘ashamed’ for disobeying His command – it was for their own good. Today we hear that it is wrong to shame someone for what they did that is shameful, according to God that is. God shamed His first two children, but then He followed up with His mercy and grace: His love. We can learn a lot from our heavenly Father in how to parent our children because God is perfect in all that He does, and we are not.

 

God took no pleasure in cursing His children with hardship, pain and death. It brought Him heartache to curse the earth too. He got no delight in making man’s work harder and childbirth painful for the woman. (Genesis 3:16-19) But, God is more concerned for building our character as His true sons and daughters.

 

To feel ashamed only means that you still have a sensitive conscience to what is good and right. The conscience that feels no more shame is seared or hardened. The conscience is said to be “seared,” unable to process or think right. When you continually reject the truth (believing the lies of the devil) your conscience doesn’t work right anymore. God knows how to re-sensitize a conscience with His Spirit and Word.

 

Jesus taught that everything said against Him will be forgiven, but when anyone rejects His Holy Spirit – that is not forgiven. Why? It’s the Spirit of God who draws us to the Savior, and it’s the Spirit of God that comes to live in us so that we have been given the right to become the children of God. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

 

When God turns you over to your depraved mind (a conscience that no longer feels shame or guilt for disobeying God – Romans 1:21-32), God’s Spirit no longer comes to you. You have become “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.”

 

God loves and honors righteousness, not wickedness, and He’s not a respecter of persons. If you are filled with evil because you hate God, even after He has come to you over and over to extend His love – then God will show you the same rejection on judgment day.

 

God will keep His children clothed in His love. He covers us like a shield so that the devil isn’t able to get at us like he used to. He covers us like a mother embracing her frightened child. He covers us like an attorney defending us against accusations. He covers us like a father holding his children accountable for their good. He covers us like a friend who won’t leave us when we offend Him. His love never fails!

 

As we look out into our world we can see the increasing battle against godly conviction; we see all the evil things happening in the world that Jesus said would depict the time of His coming. We see the rapid increase and intensity of evil as it is coming to a hideous climax.

 

Beloved, “the end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-9

 

We don’t cover up sin; we cover over sin. How? Love has to do with truth. We speak the truth in love. We say what needs to be said and we do what needs to be done, according to God’s love and truth, not according to our anger, resentment, hurt, fear or pride. Some things don’t need mentioning – just covered, but some things do need brought out in the light for a person’s freedom. The wise know the difference between covering up and covering over because they understand the love of God.

 

People want to be loved by God without being convicted by God. This is what the Lord told me when I had been accused by my sisters. They accused me of not loving our mother when the Lord told me to separate myself from my mother (and siblings) for a time, for my own good and my children’s good. It’s a long story as to why the Lord told me to do this for seven years, but I will just say that there is a lot of ignorance in the church about the love of God.

 

Love without truth is merely human affection. Truth without love is annoying arrogance. Love and truth go together for either to have the good effect on people that God wants.

 

I remember a few times my husband had to call a family meeting because he and I were grieved over something that had happened with our kids when they were teenagers. As we all came together for the truth to come out our love for one another stirred up humble confessions of tears and apologies. They quickly confessed sin and asked Jesus to forgive them. A deeper love for one another was the outcome. Christ-like character was formed. Family unity was strengthened.  The conscience needs to be set free from its guilt and shame. Jesus took care of their guilt and we took care of their shame. Forgiveness is powerful! There is a difference in the result when Christ’s “love covers over sin,” than when family just covers up sin. Family loyalty is not the same as godly unity in a family.

 

Our kids have willingly confessed things to us that most parents would never hear from their kids, especially their teenagers. At times we have shared with them about the struggles we had as teenagers and still have with sin.  Now, as a family unit, our five households stand up for each other over the right things, but not the wrong things.

 

When one of us is in the wrong we pray-pray-pray and wait for God to open the door if truth needs to be spoken. God knows the right time when truth spoken will have its good work in us, because “truth compelled by God’s love” has the potential and power to set a person free from all kinds of habitual evil practices.

 

Everyone has extremely cold and hot days to endure and get through that are not comfortable to the soul. On one occasion, I rallied our four children (ages then about 4 to 11) together for prayer because Dad had just stormed out of the house hot with anger. My husband had been going through a very long season of disturbances in his extended family with false accusations. He had been unfairly accused by a close nephew he grew up with and highly respected.

 

The kids and I sat in a circle on the living room floor and held hands as I prayed for their very tired and disheartened daddy. We tearfully and hopefully asked Jesus to protect him, to help him and bring him home to us – healed and encouraged.

 

When he returned later that evening he told us how Jesus had met with him under a tree (about 50 miles away). Four little faces lit up with joy that their prayer had been answered. It was a beautiful home-coming to say the least; lots of loving hugs and joyful tears.

 

There are some very private things you don’t need to share with your children, but to think they don’t ever need to know the hurts and struggles you have is not helpful for them. We need to keep them clothed with our trust in them; trusting them and honoring them as our confidants. Their senses are keen, even as little children. They know when something is wrong at home with mom and dad. If you try to protect them from knowing what they want to know you will mislead them. They will feel left out and come to resent you. You want them to grow up to be your friends and allies one day. So, involve them and trust their unconditional love for you that children seem to have. Let them hear you confess and pray to God; let them pray with you. This is how they learn about the love and grace of God, that there’s power in prayer and that love never fails.