Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Family: Fathers Redeem the time.

Ephesians 5: 14-16, Wherefore he saith, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil".




From the beginnning man has made instruments to measure time, but if one could possiblly brake everything that measures time, it would not stop it, time would continue to march on at the same pace it always has. All of us at sometime have wished that we could go back in time, so we could change the things that we've done, or we might even wish that we could save time, knowing that we will experience some wasted time, or feel we had run out of time, then the time we saved could be spent. The redemption of time is not the mere effort to rescue the fleeting hours of our life, but an effort to lay hold of lifes events, to make the most of them, to allow no distractions of life , or let life stand in the way of the right employment of them.

If we are to redeem the time, we must ask, what is time other than seconds, minutes, hours, days, month, and the such like, so that we can give an exact meaning to time in this instance. It would be best expressed by opportunity, so we should be ever watchful and wise to buy up lifes opportunities, so as to spend them on the best possible moments with each individual member of our family. Reeeming the time is the right management of the opportunities that are meted out to us. We are to buy up opportunities, the idea is that every moment gives an opportuity for some purpose under heaven, and whatever is done in that given space is your purchase.Like the merchant seeking goodly pearls, one need to be accustomed to dealing in pearls, and not just the everyday common run of the mill kind, but goodly pearls those of the best quality. For this merchant, traveled from place to place, finding pearls in every market place, but not all were of the goodly type, he had to carefully inspect each one to determine its quality.We all are accustomed to dealing with lifes opportunities, but much to often unlike the merchant seeking goodly pearls we fail to examine the quality of each opportunity, and settle for the inferior kind. Which brings us to the reasons why the days are evil.

1) The days are evil, because we do not evaluate lifes opportunities.

We are to rightly esteem every event, so we can purchase all the golden opportunities to produce a happy, rich, and fulfilling life in each member of our family.

2) The days are evil, becuase they are few. "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4: 14).

Our entire life is but a little time on the earth, with this as a comparison, let us consider the length of time we have with our children while they are growing up, for this is far shorter, and vanish away much more quickly, conclusion, we have very few golden opportunities with each family member, so we can not afford to lose them.

3) The days are evil, because many of the opportunities of life has already been lost.

Think about all the first things in your family history such as your childs first word, first step, first day of school, first broken heart, first performance ect. These golden opportunities along with many others that has passed, and can never be repeated, nor duplicated now that they are gone, they are forever lost. All of us could tell of some lost opportunity in our live, for we all have experienced them, so let this knowlege work as a powerful stimulus, to lay hold on all of our present, and future golden oportunities in regards to our wife and children.

4) The days are evil, because we are a sleep to the problem of our lost opportunities.

Sleep is an apt figure to describe such an individiual, for he lives in an unreal world, full of dreams, and fantasies, quite unconscious of the real world around him. He dream of more favorable times, and of circumstances that he can control. He is like a man walking in his sleep when he spends his portions of opportunities alotted to him. So he is insensible to the infinite importance of them, he is asleep to the dangers of lost opportunities, so he cares nothing about them.Therefore he needs to be startled from his slumber, and roused from his sleep walking. The cry, "Awake!" must go forth,which is the voice of love, and wisdom, for his house is being pilfered by night.

5) The days are evil, because we do not mourn over the lost oppotunities we have had with our wife or children.

You can redeem the time now by rejoicing in the time you spend with your wife and children, or mourn latter for the time you did not spend with them.

So which one will you choose?

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Family the realm of love

A home is a social unit formed by individual members living together. It is also the seminary of all other institutions, for it is there that we build character. What a child will become in latter years is largely determined by his home training and environment. It is there inscribed on the sacred wall of the home the rules of conduct, which are exposed in full view, and there are no substitutes. The value of home to build character is far more reaching then any school, or church can supply, nor is there any place else that a child can be better prepared for life.


Parents and children are each a generation, one generation passes away, and another generation come. From the time of Adam and Eve, the fisrt parents, until present time, there very likely has not been any one generation that has been free from the sorrows of broken relationships. Our present day is witnessing an all -time high on the attack of the family. The enemy's knowlegde, that a house divide against itself will not stand, has resulted in his setting up a very subtle and appealing belief of individuality, it has been successful in separating families, and throwing all of society out of balance, which is a deplorable evil. The struggle of each member of a family to find their own individuality,has brought about a state of confusion in which each member attacks the other, creating wounds and divisions that are not easily corrected. So it can be clearly seen that the strategy of "infighting" is very destructive.

We are living in a time when marriage is entered into very lightly and divorce is away out of dealing with life difficulties. Society safety net divorce, is a traitors cowardly way out of avoiding ones failure, also an act of disloyality, and a violation of the faith and trust that you would always be there for them. The brake down of the family is the leading cause of juvenile delinquency, and illegitmate births reaching an all- time high, because we are simply thrown our families to the wolves.

Our homes should be a realm of love, for it is the thing that every human heart longs for, more than anything else it desires someone to love. It is love that make the heartaches and struggles of life easy to endure. A proper affection for one another in the home, would solve many of our pressing problems, and would eliminate strife, contention, and rivalry, which so often results in a broken homes.

Our nation,as well as our churches, cannot rise any higher than our homes , for the home is the training ground for all other institutions. As the homes are, so are the community, and the church. So if you want to gauge the effect your church is having on your community, just look around your church and that is your effect. The home is much larger than the individuals that make it up the husband, the wife, and the children. A man that takes a wife just to stuff his pocket by her slavery to him, or as a means to attain his own selfish ends, and only treats her as a play thing degrade a woman, and he will not realize the loveiness of his home. The home is not a borrowing institution, were you take out a loan to spent on your fleshly desires, it is your own personal stock market ,and it pays excellent dividends. The member of a family who expects only to draw from the good of the home, and not to make any deposits will soon find that the home has nothing left to give, and will soon end up on the rocks. Here are somethings to help cultive love in the home

1) Above all else, God is to be in every part of your home. " Except the Lord build the house, you labour in vain that buld it" (Psalms 127: 1).

2) Even though the husband is the head of the home, by no means is he to be a dictator over his helpmeet or his children. God saw that is was not good that man should be alone and made a helpmeet for him, so let her help, always remembering that it was not good for you to do it alone.

3) The family's ideals, hopes, plans, and struggles are to be shared by all it members, after all they will have an effect on all of them.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Family: A Message To Men

 Previously I have written somethings concerning my wife and my children, of whom I personally have a great love for. I started at the end of our family history, but that wonderful condition was not always so. I share this in hopes that any that read it, whose family life has entered into the turbulent waters of life, or that has run a ground on the rocks in the shallow pools of human existance may find hope, comfort, and strength. My home as every home, has gone through many hardships, but the thousand battles of its exsistence did cause it to become injured, scarred, and broken, because I refused to see the beauty of its sacred intimacies. So the ship that my wife and I set sail on to travel the journey of life became ship wrecked. Rather than going into the particular of this disastrous trip let us consider the rescue.


After the creation of man, God said, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Until this scripture becomes reality your home has not really yet begun. When I was young I lived with a group of guys,though we lived together, it was not a home, each of us had are own separate lives. So when I became really honest with myself, I realized that my wife and I were living two separate lives. The two becoming one is the fundamental building block of marriage, until you understand that, and make a commitment to that, you will remain separate individuals living separate lives. Once you have estabished this fundamental building block, it will not matter whether you live in a cave or a castle. A man knows that when he leaves his father and mother he takes a wife, but not all cleave unto the wife, nor do they become one flesh. It is a result of a lack of this fundament building block, that one does not naviagate through the troublesome sea of life, which leads to the relationship becoming ship wrecked, or your vessel sinking to the bottom of the abyss.

1) You must make a commitment to the two becoming one fundamental building block, then your home, and rescue will begin. Unless this becomes a steadfast conviction there is no hope of success, because your commitment will be challenged on every front.

2) You need to stop courting other things, and start courting your wife. Your affections will be set on something such as, a job, a career, other women, Ect. Your zeal and vigor must be even greater then what you set on other things. You are not unfamiliar in the pursuits after other things, you certainly know how to court your wife, it may have been along time since you did, but you have pursued after her in the past, and you did win her, so you can do it again. You are not just simply salvaging your marriage, your salvaging yourself.

3) Your motivations must be pure, and you must not expect anything in return. What I mean by this is, whatever you do to court your wife must be done with pure motives, not, because you just got done doing something wrong, and you must not expect that everything is now made right. If that is your motivation then it will show, and do more harm than good. She has heard, I am sorry, I will not do it again, and please forgive me to many times. What is needed is fruit worthy of repentance, and it may take sometime before she see it, and is convinced of it. So unless your motives are pure, and you expect nothing in return, you will become frustrated, overwhemed, and defeated long before your relationship will ascend up from the ruin it is in.

4) You need to veiw your wife as a treasure that you can not affort to lose, nor live without. If you will continuously treat your wife in this manner, when the time comes that you fall short, and those times will come, your quick return to the cultivation of your love, will result in those weeds in the garden of your domestic paradise to be plucked up, and not allow them time to take root.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Searching for True Love, and Hope


When I was a young girl, I wanted someone to love, and someone to love me back.  The only problem with that, was, I went looking in all the wrong places.  I looked for love in my family, but they let me down, so I started to look elsewhere, in other people,and friends but those that I thought were my friends were leading me deeper and deeper into a troubled life, I did not know the direction I was heading, I was  about to head down a very dangerous road. I still didn’t feel that I found the love I was looking for in my family, or friends I still had an empty feeling in my heart that needed to be filled.


My search went on, then I met my first love, well I thought it was love and for a short time things seemed to go good, for about two years, and then there were tears, when I got the call that he no longer wanted to see me, I was crushed, this was my first broken heart. I thought I would never look for love again, love hurts too much.


I had enough, I left, moved away, trying to forget, I was doing ok, until I met my second love, it wasn’t long before I realized this was a big mistake, now I was having a baby, and he wasn’t going to share me with the baby, and he started to get violent, home I went as fast I could. 


I wasn’t home very long, before I was hanging around with the wrong crowd, it wasn’t hard, they lived next door, and I started taking drugs and drinking. I no longer cared if I found love or not, I began living for myself. Time went on, and then someone introduced me to my third love, now that I was living for myself, I left to be with him, though I wasn’t finding happiness, I still stayed with him, we drank, did drugs, and partied.  He spent sometime in jail and during this time I had my second baby.  When he was back, we moved several times, and then we left the area and off we went not telling anyone were we where going, he began to abuse me and my son, I felt like I had no place to run. So I finally  told him I wanted to go home, and  to my surpise he brought me back, but the abuse got worth, until I was afraid for my life, no were to go, I went to a safe house until my family could get there to help me. Home at last, he stalked me and scared me, and threatened all of us, but I stood my ground, and soon he was back in jail, and I found out I was going to have another baby, life goes on.


I started going to church, and when I wasn’t looking for love, love found me; Jesus picked me up and washed me clean, it’s as if I had never sinned.  I realized he was there all the time I was looking in all the wrong places. Now I feel loved, and I am in love, love that is pure, it’s the love that only Christ can give, and I thank him every day for his gift of love. He has given me hope to carry on every minute of everyday he lifted those burdens off of my heart, and given me strength to go on.  My children are grown now and there search has begun, I am so glad I taught them how Jesus is a friend that sticks closer then a brother, and he will also give them true hope, and true love. As long as they stay with him.



If you are looking for love, and hope, look to Jesus that’s the only place you will find it, it's free to them who believe, Jesus suffered and died so we can have it, if that isn't love then I don’t know what is, why keep looking when it right there waiting for you to except it. Don’t delay, let Jesus in your heart today.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Sharing from my heart part 3

My wife and I are the parents of five children, I do not view them as a penalty nor a burden, but as a favour, not as an incumbrance but as an inhertiace; not regrets, but rewards. Children are a gift from God, the upbuilding of the family is the area for parents to colabor together with God, to mold and shape the next generation into the image of Christ.

On the six day of creation God formed the institution of marriage, then said, "be fruitful and multiple", since that time God has manifestly blessed the family. Even during Christ earthly ministry, he welcomed children, and anyone that would forbid them recieved his displeasure, even his closest followers were rebuked by him for thier refusal to allow children to be brought to him Mark 10:13,14.

The master was known for speaking many parables unto the people and without a parable spoke he not unto them (Mk.4:33,34), but to his disciples he used a child as an object-lesson (Mt.18:1-3). A child is a visble embodiment of the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. When we consider a little child we see the ideal citizen of Christs kingdom, and in my colaboring with God, my children have taught me many things, and at times some very hard lessons.

Our children are now grown, some of them have families of their own, but their is nothing in life that brings me more pleasure, nor equals the joy that I get  from see my children walking in the commandments of our Lord.I would like to share with you the song of gladness, that resounds within my heart as a ballad of praise, its springs from the  depth of my soul, like a performace of a well rehearsed company of balladeers. This sentimental musical cry of my heart, narrates, the personal lyrics of my childrens story.



My son is a moral agent, he hungers and thirst after the things that are needful for him to live a good christian life, and that will cause him to grow spiritually.

He is a man that Christ is not ashamed to call him brethren, and he has been made a partaker of his divine nature.

He has learned to deny himself, so that he could enrich himself with the treasures which make a man rich toward God.

He seeks and cultivates the fruit of the spirit........... and is always eager to pursue after the good things of God.

He has armed himself with the whole armor of God......... that he might fight the good fight of faith, and that he may lay hold of eternal life.

He is a gladiator for Christ in the amphitheatre of life.

He has enrolled himself in the number of the great cloud of witness for Christ.

My daughters of Zion have a true adornment, for they see their soul far more precious than their bodies, and all that pass them by can see thier chaste behaviour coupled with fear.

Their eyes are like doves, gentle, innocent, loving, they are lillies of the valley, thier purity is a result of a genuine piety that enhances their soul.

They are pure and sweet flowers in the bouquet of the blessed redeemer, their praise rises up a sweet smelling savior unto God.

They are Lillies amougst the thorns of this world , the subtle essence of their flower flows out a perpetual spring of blessing.

They possess a stainless goodness, moral excellence, and a sacred sweetness.

They are precious ornaments in the garden of our Lord, ever serving their king with reverence and placeing themselevs under his royal command.

Their song of songs is: "The king has brought me into his chambers".

They are my joy and my treasure which no man can confer, no money can buy and they are a source of lasting and elevating gladness to my heart.

My proud hertiage to behold, and when I see them bearing the image of Christ, an being miniature reproduction of him, I feel I have not lived in vain

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Hope, the Eternal Seal of Life


Who against hope believed in hope…

                                                         Romans 5:5

            The greatest story of hope in the word of God is the promise of eternal life without fear or pain. The Holy Spirit ignites the fire of hope burning deep within us. True faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ enables anyone to stand strong and bold in the righteousness of the Lord. As followers of Christ we must always seek to become more than we are; to strive for what we know God alone can make us. On the premise of “individuality”, today’s society has forged a mold consisting of popular opinion and conformity. Our hope in Jesus allows us not only to break the mold but to cast it out of our lives and allow God to create the person he knows we can be. 

Those who live by the word of God anticipate the coming of Christ. “Looking for the blessed hope, and this glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Ti 2:10). They have the expectation of eternal life and a heavenly treasure. “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col 1:5).  

Throughout the world God has given all who believe in him the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comforts the people of God and gives each individual the boldness of the spirit. A bold spirit encourages each faithful child of God, to endeavor towards the ultimate goal of perfection in Christ and eternal salvation through the blood of Jesus. To stand up strong for the word of God no longer to whisper his praises but to sing out among the multitudes without fear or apprehension. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (He 10:19).   `       

It moves in our lives and changes us in ways that even we cannot see. It is the foundation of everything we believe. It lives within us to encourage, uplift and ultimately transform us. Hope is a fine thread of gold woven within the tapestry of life, eloquently uniting God’s people throughout the essence of time.  Hope gives us the desire to establish our faith steadfast and true in the love of God and enables us to journey forward each day. With hope no matter how dark the night or fierce the storm that rages our souls will find peace knowing that our spirits will rise with the dawn and soar with the angels.  

Monday, January 2, 2012

Sharing from my heart Part 2

Tomorrow January 3rd is my wife's birthday, we have been married for 37 years,and I would like to share somethings with you, how this woman has enriched and beautified my life. On the day that God created Adam, He said, "It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him an helpmate for him". Knowing where my life was and the direction it was heading, it was not good that I should be alone, I needed lots of help. The bible says,"Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and has obtained favour of the LORD". How in my sinful existence I was able to found this good thing, can only be due to the grace of God, because I was totally undeserving of it. This gift from God was proof of his gracious care and concern for me and over time I would come to know just how blessed our union was.


I have learn that my wife is not my counterpart, but my complement and that it is not her part to imitate men, nor is she inferior because she is different from men, but that a rich full human life is only attained by the blending of those differences. So marriage is not a mere contract between two people, but the fellowship of souls, forming a complex whole.

For it was a result of my wife roll in our marriage, that I come to know and appreciate, how the union of husbnad and wife is a copy of the mystical union of Christ and his church. For a virtuous woman is a prophetic representation of the church of Christ in her truth, purity, and influence. For a virtuous woman has great internal fortitude both physically and spiritually, who alone deserves the holy name wife,within her is combined the ideals of moral goodness, bodily vigor, and holy activity.

My heart can safely trust in my wife, for I have full confidence in her, knowing that I can leave her any where and she will act discreetlly, with integrity while I am absent from her. For I know she will do me good and not evil all the days of her life. She is consistent in her conduct toward me, always pursuing my best interests, in good times and bad, in the early years of our youthful affection, and in the waning years of our declining age. Her love, is based on high principles.

The work of my wifes hands has come from a willing heart and she finds pleasure in caring for me and her family,so I wll let the works of her hands rise up to praise her.

She exercises careful surveillance over all that goes on in her household that she might, guides her family with words of wisdom, that she may minister grace to the hearers and her tongue is guided with kindness and symphathy.

She can not sleep untill all the diffuctities of her household are taken care of. She is not afraid of poverty, she reaches out a helping hand to the poor, she know that having pity on the poor is leading to the Lord Pr. 19: 17.

She posssess a moral force and dignity which arm her against the on slot of unseen events. She manages the affairs of her house so she can have something to give in times of trouble. When the famines and troublesome times of life befall us, she is a storehouse of supplies, she is like a merchants ship who cargo hole has resources for all season.

She is a tower of strength, capable of great and continuious exertion when calamity comes against our household and when trouble come against me, she runs swiftly to my side, the warmth of her present give me comfort, and the brilliance of her person is like a candle that does not go out by night and her influence is felt in all our household

Such a woman as my wife is not just simply a loving, modest and loyal companion, she is wise in her business affairs, upright, and God fearing. Her price is far above rubies; more valuable than precious stones, her worth can not be estimated, I could travel to the ends of the earth and not find anything equal to her value. To sum it up breifly she is the crown of my rejoicing, my glory, and my pride.