GRIEVING FATHERS & BITTER MOTHERS

Proverbs 17:25

A foolish child brings grief to a father and bitterness to a mother.

I'd recently read a story about an unhappy and frustrated schoolteacher that resigned her post. When asked of her thoughts regarding her reasons for her feelings, she made the following statement, “In our public schools today, the teachers are afraid of the principals, the principals are afraid of the superintendents, the superintendents are afraid of the board, the board members are afraid of the parents, the parents are afraid of the children, and the children are afraid of nobody.” The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 22:6 to, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” It's quite obvious that when we disregard the guidance from the Word on raising children, vicious cycles rear their ugly heads. Christian parents need to remember that if they raise their children as the Bible teaches them, their children will bring heaps of happiness into their homes and wisdom into their later years. Parents, do you really want to be grieving and bitter? The right choice can be made, just choose it.

BROKEN HEARTS, PAIN, SICKNESS OR MONEY PROBLEMS?

Romans 14:17-18

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God. And other people will approve of you, too.

There is a specific Kingdom lifestyle according to Romans 14:17-18. Life in the Kingdom means you get to live a life of goodness, peace and Joy through the Holy Ghost. Whenever bad circumstances you could be going through - whether it be a broken heart, pains, sickness, or financial problems - your spirit and morale could be brought way down. However, for as long as the Holy Spirit and our personal spirit are in fellowship together, we can rise above the circumstances and live in the spiritual realm where there is goodness, peace and joy. Are you serving Christ with this attitude? Are you in fellowship with the Holy Spirit?

WHEN MIRACLES ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT

Mark 6:35-37

That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat." Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." But they asked him, "Don't you know that it would take almost a year's wages to buy all of these people something to eat?"

Never ever underestimate what your neediest situations can do for you when it comes to blessings. The Lord Jesus Himself was moved with compassion when He saw the people's need for food, and He was inspired to give a challenging command to His disciples that was seemingly impossible to implement. Commands from God typically carry the weight of impossibility, however, you'll see from Mark 6 that the key to tackling seemingly insurmountable tasks is obedience and communion. Recognize your general inadequacy to complete His will in your power and then allow Him to use you to make the miracles happen. That's how the disciples fed the masses that day. How do you respond when you feel that God has placed you in an uncomfortable situation with a command that you would deem difficult to follow? Do you find yourself truly prepared for God's will, come what may?

FIRST WILL BE LAST & LAST WILL BE FIRST

Matthew 20:26-27

But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave.

You know that you're on your way to being a good leader if you're aware of how the least among your people is feeling. The difficulty behind being a "servant leader" is that as a true servant, you must be present at all times to serve, while as a leader one must always be aware that people are following you. Amazingly, our Lord Jesus Christ has lived this type of leadership up to this very present moment. He told us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” and “I will be with you always unto the end of the world.” To lead as Jesus would, you must always be present to lead and to serve. Your presence and service are inseparable, and the results of the combination are utterly miraculous.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

2 Corinthians 5:20

We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!"

In today's world of diplomacy and state departments, there are ambassadors from every nation deployed to different countries all over the world. FDR was once quoted saying, “I have come to know that the finest of Americans we have abroad today are the missionaries of the Cross. I am humiliated that I am not finding out until this late day the worth of foreign missions and the nobility of the missionaries. Their testimony in China, for instance, during the war there, is beyond praise. Their courage is thrilling and their fortitude heroic.” As ambassadors of the cross, our job is to spread the love of Christ. The love of Christ can break down language and cultural barriers, as well as political and military differences. When a Christian missionary is sent into a difficult situation, we can say for certain that spreading love and ending strife will be key priorities. What are your day to day priorites as an ambassador of the cross? Are you accomplishing what God has set out before you?

I'M SO BORED. MLIA.

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

When Diana Humphries of Houston, Texas, was sixteen years old, she claimed that she'd become bored with her "routine average everyday life". For excitement, Humphries ambushed and killed her fourteen year old brother with a .22 rifle. The reason she gave the authorities was, “because nothing exciting ever happens around here”. Boredom is a result of not knowing one's purpose in life. What makes our life truly meaningful is when we live out the purpose that God has designed for our life. Move to seek God's Word for your purpose and ask God to teach you to do His will. If you do this, you'll likely never find yourself uttering the words, "nothing exciting ever happens" or typing out the letters "mlia".

SO YOU LIKE TO USE CURSE WORDS?

Exodus 20:7

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Throughout the ages, Christians have interpreted this verse to where one would utter the name of God in an expression or even worse, in a curse phrase. Upon taking the Lord's name in vain, one should ask of themselves whether or not He really is your God? If you're certain that He is your God, then certainly you're supposed to be following Him and partaking in such sayings is both shameful and sinful. For those that do not know God personally, the misuse and misrepresentation of God name's would deem those persons nothing more than atheists that are doomed without the Lamb of God. If you're a believer, don't misrepresent yourself by using curse words or invoking the Lord's name in vain. The Lord will not leave you guiltless for this action.

MISERABLY UNSATISFIED

Ecclesiastes 1:8

Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

Legendary oil magnate, J. P. Getty, despite his enormous wealth would go on to suffer from depression eventually become addicted to narcotics. As one of the richest men in the world, he was asked what was the single most thing he would change if he had the power to make such a thing happen. He responded by saying, "I’d change philosophy. People should be more content. The way to cure discontent is not necessarily to get more.... The old cliché about money not buying happiness is certainly true." If you're chasing riches as your primary goal, you need to refocus your goal because riches are ultimately empty and unsatisfying. If you're chasing riches today, try changing your philosophy and commit to live for God. You'll find that your life will be satisfying and filled with blessings. Or you could just go ahead and do what J. P. Getty did...

WHEN PROMISES ARE NEVER BROKEN

Psalm 119:57

Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words!

When you take the time say Psalm 119:57 out loud to God as a sign of covenant with Him, you are embracing the truth that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9 teaches us even further on the matter, “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Our God is a promise keeping God and we're so blessed to have Him as a covenant partner. He has everything to bless you with, not only in this lifetime but in the eternal life He's gifted you with.

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE

Habakkuk 2:3

But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

It is a very natural desire to try to get everything we want, the way we want it, and at the exact time we want it to happen. When we pursue our personal desires in this way, we put our own actions and desires ahead of the Lord’s plan for our lives. Instead of working with God, we rush ahead of God's plan thereby missing the beauty behind the mysterious ways He unravels His plan for our lives right before our very eyes. God promises us that He would fulfill His promise to us slowly, steadily and surely. Trust His Word because it is pure and without error. Remember to be patient as He unveils Himself in your life.

BAD ROMANCE AND RELATIONSHIPS

2 Corinthians 6:15

What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

One of the biggest decision making mistakes that people fall into is choosing the wrong partner for life. Whoever it is that we should choose, the Bible teaches us that we become one with them. In 2 Chronicles 8:11 we are told that:

Solomon moved his wife, Pharaoh's daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. He said, "My wife must not live in King David's palace, for the Ark of the LORD has been there, and it is holy ground."

Solomon had chosen a woman to be his wife that was an unbeliever, and worst of all Solomon willingly and knowingly made this decision. Getting into a relationship too early or with the wrong person could obstruct your ability to discern God's plan for you. Also, if one's fleshly desires are the basis of choosing, then the will of God will certainly be denied. However, should you make the right choices, you can certainly expect the blessings for obedience.

YOU ARE GONNA BE FAMOUS

Genesis 12:2

I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others.

Genesis 12:2 features the promise that God made to Abraham, the fatherly root of Israel. Being faithful to His promise, God used Abraham's lineage to bless us with the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the mystery that the Jews were just not able to see despite their religious nature. God revealed through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:4-6, "In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." Have you taken part in the promise that God made for you? If not, what are you waiting for?

FORGIVENESS 101

Luke 17:3-4

I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him."

Lord Balfour once said, "The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity." The definition of charity is love, and the genuine love that people gracefully show is symbolic of the love God Himself gives to man. The forgiveness for one's enemy that Lord Balfour references can only be possible when a graceful love is resident in your heart. Take the first step toward a graceful peace in your heart and let go of any grudges by forgiving those that have wronged you. You'll be surprised at how much you'll personally grow from such a simple act.

WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK

Romans 4:8

Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord.

A mother asked her little girl who had been sent to her room for being naughty, “Did you tell God about your being so naughty and ask to be forgiven?” Her daughter responded, “No, I didn’t think you’d want the scandal known outside the family.” Sometimes, people are paralyzed with fear of what other people will think about their personal situations. Because of this fear, some will even hesitate to confess to God the wrongs that have been done in their lives, thereby becoming a slave of the coverup. The Bible says that if we confess our sins to God, He will be faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Do it and experience the joy of being free from the slavery of your own personal sins. After all, your deepest and darkest sinful secrets will no longer be counted.

I AM SLOW TO ANGER

Exodus 34:6

He passed in front of Moses and said, "I am the Lord, I am the Lord, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness."

When Moses received the law from the Lord, God introduced Himself to Moses as the merciful and gracious God. This was the first time that God had personally issued written instruction to men. Prior to implementing the law, He gave the underlying source and foundation which is His mercy, grace, love and faithfulness. God's implementation of law gives our lives a focus onto His very purpose for our creation. Without this foundation of mercy, grace and love, man would be prone to wander aimlessly without purpose. By standing, however, upon the foundation given to man, we become the recipient of His complete and unfailing love.

HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?

Philippians 4:8

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

It’s just way too easy to set our minds upon bad, ugly, or even evil things. Don't let your mind fall into that pattern and trap. Rather, keep your eyes and mind focused on things that are true, honorable and right, dedicating everyday to the source of joy and encouraging others to live this way, as well. As you experience the circumstances of daily life, keep meditating on that which is "pure and lovely and admirable." Take the time to praise the Lord for beautiful thinking because doing so leads to beautiful living. How often do you set your mind to think about things that are excellent and worthy? Don't hesitate on making this very simple change.

UNKNOWN NUMBER - PICK UP OR IGNORE?

1 Thessalonians 2:12

We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory.

There are really only two responses when God calls you: obey or ignore. Life Magazine once printed a story about President Kennedy during a tumultuous time:

One morning President Kennedy was in his bedroom when a special, top-secret telephone began to ring. He, expecting the worst, picked up the receiver. He said, "This is the president," the voice startled on the other end, "I must have the wrong number; I’m trying to reach a French laundry." White House communications experts never figured out where the call came from, or how it had been patched through to that vital telephone line.

In stark contrast, when we call upon the Lord, God knows exactly who we are and He responds righteously to our pleas. Because of His response, when He calls we must righteously and reverently respond to His call and obey. When we respond in this way, we are called into His Kingdom and we share in His glory. Are you responding to God's call? Are you completely giving in to His will for your life?

CHECKING YOURSELF OUT IN THE MIRROR

Psalm 119:9

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.

It's a real struggle for people to be clean on both the inside and the outside. Regarding the outside, people are pretty conscious about their personal hygiene and grooming. In fact, there are those that would stand in front of the bathroom mirror for what may seem like forever just to make sure everything is clean, prim and proper. Keeping one's spiritual life clean requires diligence, honesty and attention to detail. We should look in the mirror daily with the Word, cleansing our hearts and minds in obedience to God. James 1:23-24 teaches us, “For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” Put in the time and effort to work on your spiritual life, just like you would put the time and effort into your physical appearance.

TRUE AUTHENTIC BEAUTY

Ecclesiastes 3:11

God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Upon completing a painting, the famed artist Marc Chagall would use God's perfection to authenticate his effort. Chagall once said, “When I am finishing a picture, I hold some God-made object up to it — a rock, a flower, the branch of a tree or my hand — as a kind of final test. If the painting stands up beside a thing man cannot make, the painting is authentic.” Don't base yourself upon the standards set by the world, comparing yourself to man-made achievements, man-made determinations of success or man-made determinations of beauty. Everything God created is sublime and beautiful - and that means you, too.

ALIVE AND STILL KICKING

Romans 1:8

Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for each one of you.

The late 19th century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche challenged the foundations of Christianity when he wrote, "God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?" In a tragic demise, Nietzsche died suffering from syphilis, two paralyzing heart attacks, pneumonia and a mental breakdown; his last writings before death were his rambling "Madness Letters" which were sent to his friends and colleagues. The irony of Nietzsche's claim is that God is alive and that His will remains the same. Nietzsche, however, is long dead with his "will to power" buried with him. Use your life to let the world know that God is alive and still kicking, and shine His light upon a world that needs to know the truth.

HOW TO SPOT A FAKE

2 Corinthians 11:14

But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.

I recently visited my local city hall and I noticed new brochures on display that educated residents about security markings on cash. Apparently, there had been a recent influx of counterfeit money into my town's local economy. Similarly, there are people that will try to pass you false faith teachings that will appear to agree with the Lord Jesus, His teachings and His words. These false teachers will sometimes appeal to you in God's name, using what appear to be Christian practices. They might even behave the way you think a Christian would behave and even look the way you think a Christian would look. No worries though, because the Word of God tells us how to identify the "security markings" of the truth given to us by the Bible, as well as how to identify the fakers. Take the time to read the Bible, to meditate upon the Word and let Him reign throughout your life. Do these things and you'll have no problem seeing the lack of fruit around a spiritual counterfeit. Likewise, if you do get fooled by a spiritual counterfeit, it may unfortunately be time for you to examine your own walk with God.

HANDLE WITH CARE

Hebrews 11:5

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying — "suddenly he disappeared because God took him." But before he was taken up, he was approved as pleasing to God.

There are those among us that would tell people that there are different ways to get into heaven. "Being religious" or performing good deeds are two of the most typical reasons that people provide to gain access to what they envision as heaven. Unfortunately, to propose such thoughts would be among the biggest frauds that religions could lead a person to believe. Make no mistake, religious leaders that preach that following a religion or performing good works can get you into heaven are guilty for the hell bound souls that didn't heard the truth because of their lies. There's a funny story I'd heard about a factory foreman inspecting a shipment of crystal vases that said to a helpful newly hired packager, "I see you did what I asked. You stamped the top of each box, 'This Side Up, Handle With Care.'" The packer responded, "Yes sir, and just to make sure, I stamped it on the bottom, too." Don't add to or subtract from the Word. The confusion caused may leave you with someone's blood on your hands.

SUFFERING AND CHAINED LIKE A CRIMINAL

2 Timothy 2:9

And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.

History tells us that 1st century Christians fled Roman persecution and lived underground in the nearly 600 miles of cavernous tunnels outside Rome. During nearly 300 years of suppression, 10 generations of Christians were buried in those catacombs with the death count somewhere between 1.7 and 4 million. In the caves and tunnels, inscriptions of Scripture can still be seen today on the catacomb walls. One of the most frequent inscriptions is the sign of the fish, but the inscription that best describes their faith is, “The Word of God is not bound.” If your faith is rock solid, there are no chains strong enough that can ever hold back what God can do with your life. If for some reason your Christian walk leaves you suffering and feeling chained like a criminal, take the time to look to God to restore your faith so that it's rock solid. After all, the Word of God is not bound, and neither are you.

SIGH... I'M SO BORED.

Isaiah 49:4

I replied, "But my work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all. Yet I leave it all in the LORD'S hand; I will trust God for my reward."

On June 17, 2008, ExecuNet.com released a survey of 1,597 employed executives with an average annual salary of more than $206,000 revealing that only 61% surveyed were satisfied or very satisfied with their current job. It showed that professional fulfillment varied significantly by job function, with MIS/IT and Sales executives most likely to be unhappy. The survey also went on to unveil that boredom and a shortage of opportunities for advancement were key factors for the lower levels of job satisfaction. You might be asking yourself how a person earning an executive salary could be dissatisfied or worse yet, bored? Well, boredom occurs when a person very plainly doesn't know their purpose in life or a particular situation. If you find that you don't understand your life's purpose, seek wisdom from the Word. It's safe to say that when you find your purpose, it'll be a priceless treasure worth waiting for.

GROW STRONG AND VIGOROUS

Colossians 2:7

Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

The process of growth can sometimes be a painful process. We can even see the pains and hardships when person who desires to try and climb the ladder of success goes through the process of educating oneself and simply passing all the required tests. As our faith grows, we have to learn from the Word of God, implementing all those lessons into our life. When we obey God's desires for us, whether it be painful or filled with suffering, we pass the tests and find our faith increased because we now have proof that the Word of God is true. Are the roots of your faith strongly tied to the Word of God today?