Written By TWFT
Thursday, February 23
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Ps 127:1
How would you describe your relationship with your children? Strained? Exciting? Heart-breaking? Enjoyable? If you want a real eye-opener, ask them to describe their feelings about you and their home. But be warned—what they say might not be to your liking! And having a Christian home doesn’t necessarily exempt you. The old nature in us still rears its ugly head from time to time, and habits set in concrete can lead to broken communication. When biblical principles are ignored, the result is pain and strain in the family. Three illustrations come to mind: (1) Rebekah loved her son Jacob more than his brother Esau, so she used him to deceive their father, Isaac, and cause division in the family (See Ge 27). (2) Eli, the high priest, let his boys run wild, and in the end it cost him his life (See 1Sa 3-4). (3) David preached one thing but practiced another, and his children (as kids are apt to do) were more influenced by what he did than by what he said. (See 2Sa 11, 13, 15-16; 1Ki 11). Nobody is immune; not David, not Rebekah, not Eli—not you! But the evaluation is pointless if it leads to guilt without action. So what should you do? Take time to get close to your children. Deal with the barriers between you. You can’t change anything unless you’re willing to acknowledge it—and sometimes change must begin with you. For example, does your attitude need adjusting? How about your priorities? What about the example you have been setting lately? Before you try to deal with your children, ask God to deal with you.
Thursday, February 23
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Ps 127:1
How would you describe your relationship with your children? Strained? Exciting? Heart-breaking? Enjoyable? If you want a real eye-opener, ask them to describe their feelings about you and their home. But be warned—what they say might not be to your liking! And having a Christian home doesn’t necessarily exempt you. The old nature in us still rears its ugly head from time to time, and habits set in concrete can lead to broken communication. When biblical principles are ignored, the result is pain and strain in the family. Three illustrations come to mind: (1) Rebekah loved her son Jacob more than his brother Esau, so she used him to deceive their father, Isaac, and cause division in the family (See Ge 27). (2) Eli, the high priest, let his boys run wild, and in the end it cost him his life (See 1Sa 3-4). (3) David preached one thing but practiced another, and his children (as kids are apt to do) were more influenced by what he did than by what he said. (See 2Sa 11, 13, 15-16; 1Ki 11). Nobody is immune; not David, not Rebekah, not Eli—not you! But the evaluation is pointless if it leads to guilt without action. So what should you do? Take time to get close to your children. Deal with the barriers between you. You can’t change anything unless you’re willing to acknowledge it—and sometimes change must begin with you. For example, does your attitude need adjusting? How about your priorities? What about the example you have been setting lately? Before you try to deal with your children, ask God to deal with you.
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January
A NEW YEAR, A NEW STARTTHIS YEAR, DO FIRST THINGS FIRSTNEVER STOP LEARNING (1)NEVER STOP LEARNING (2)GET OUT OF DEBT AND STAY OUT OF DEBTDON'T BE SO CONTROLLINGTHE SEVEN-DAY CHALLENGEPARENT, KEEP PERSEVERINGTURNING TWO FAMILIES INTO ONEPUT YOUR HEART INTO YOUR PARTFOUR PRINCIPLES FOR VICTORIOUS LIVINGTAKE CONTROL OF THE SMALL THINGSDON’T GIVE UPLEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (1)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (2)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (3)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (4)SET OTHER THINGS ASIDE AND SERVEGOD AND WORKHOW TO ENRICH AND STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPSPROPHECY FULFILLEDDON'T SHOUT ABOUT ITYOU'RE GROWING IN GRACEWALKING WITH GODYOUR SECRET PLACEWORK ON GROWING CLOSERARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT RETIREMENT?GIDEON'S GOD IS YOUR GODTO GROW WE MUST KEEP ASKING QUESTIONSBE INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING GOD DOES
February
GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU–IF YOU LISTENDO THE WORDPRAYING WITHOUT SAYING A WORDSHOW GRACE UNDER FIREHAVING JOB SECURITY (1)HAVING JOB SECURITY (2)HAVING JOB SECURITY (3)HAVING JOB SECURITY (4)THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS THROUGH YOUYOUR PERSONAL GUIDESTOP AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONSYOUR HARVEST IS ON THE WAYGIVE YOUR CHILDREN CONVICTIONS TO LIVE BYYOUR LIMITED WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITYPULL DOWN THOSE STRONGHOLDSUSE THE GIFT GO GAVE YOUFINDING SELF-WORTHMUZZLE YOUR MOUTHCHOOSING A LEADERGOD KNOW'S WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUARE YOU TIRED OF LIVING IN DEFEAT?MAKE AN IMPACTBE PATIENT, GOD IS AT WORKLIVE THE LIVING WORDTAKE TIME TO WONDER AND WORSHIPBE A DISCIPLE OF JESUSTO BE CONFORMED IS TO BE CREATIVELIVE IN THE “HERE AND NOW”YOU NEED GOD'S HELP
March
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April
EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (3)EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (2)EVIDENCES OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION (1)THE RIGHT BALANCEWHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (3)WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (2)WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (1)STORMPROOFED FOR LIFEARE YOU STRESSED OUT? (1)LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR MARRIAGE PARTNERREADY…GO!ARE YOU STRESSED OUT? (2)ARE YOU STRESSED? (3)DO WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYSSTOP COVERING IT UP