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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2023
January
ENJOY EACH DAY OF THIS NEW YEAR (1)ENJOY EACH DAY OF THIS NEW YEAR (2)THIS YEAR THINK “POSSIBLE” (1)THIS YEAR THINK “POSSIBLE” (2)THIS YEAR THINK “POSSIBLE” (3)LET GOD LEAD YOUGOD IS YOUR PROVIDERYOUR OVERFLOWING CUP OF BLESSINGSTEPS TO OVERCOMING YOUR WORRIESFOCUS ON YOUR GOD-GIVEN VISIONTHE STORY OF YOUR BIBLEHOW GOD LEADS USHOW JESUS DEALT WITH SINARE YOU JOY-DEPRIVEDIT’S TIME TO PRAY (1)IT’S TIME TO PRAY (2)FAITH THAT BRINGS RESULTSBE FAITHFUL TO GOD AT WORKWHEN YOUR BEST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGHTODAY, GIVE YOUR PROBLEM TO GODSTEPS TO FORGIVENESS (1)STEPS TO FORGIVENESS (2)THE JOYS OF HEAVEN (1)THE JOYS OF HEAVEN (2)THE JOYS OF HEAVEN (3)LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR ANGERSEEK GOD FOR DIRECTIONTRY A POWER NAPGO TO THE RIGHT SOURCEHOW GOD SEES YOUYOU HAVE TO “WALK OUT” THE PROCESS
February
GUARD THESE THREE AREAS OF VULNERABILITYSIMPLIFY YOUR LIFEONWARD AND UPWARDYOU NEED EACH OTHER (1)YOU NEED EACH OTHER (2)YOU NEED EACH OTHER (3)SHOWING GRACE TOWARD THOSE WHO DIFFER WITH YOUARE YOU HAVING A NIGHTIME EXPERIENCE?A HEART FILLED WITH GOODNESSCHRIST’S LOVE FOR YOUGIVE GOD ALL THE GLORYYOU’RE A REFLECTORYOU MUST CARE FOR THE NEEDY (1)YOU MUST CARE FOR THE NEEDY (2)YOU MUST CARE FOR THE NEEDY (3)DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR SAULRECOVERING FROM BURNOUTSETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE (1)SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE (2)HE WILL DO IT AGAIN!BEWARE OF SELF-PITYTODAY, CHOOSE THE RIGHT ATTITUDEBUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILDREN“SERVANT” FOR LIFECHANGE YOUR EXPECTATIONSSTART MEMORIZING SCRIPTURESCHRIST IS COMING AGAIN!FRIENDSHIP
March
EXPERIENCING GOD’S PRESENCE AND PLEASUREDON’T WAIT; ENJOY YOUR LIFE NOWMONEY MATTERS IN MARRIAGEUSE YOUR GOD-GIVEN CREATIVITYA PRAYER OF FORGIVENESSWHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (1)WHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (2)WHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (3)WHEN GOD SENDS YOU AN ANGEL (4)A PRAYER FOR FINANCIAL CONTENTMENTA PRAYER OF COMMITMENT TO GODHAVING A VISION FOR YOUR LIFECHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE (1)CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE (2)CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE (3)DOES IT GLORIFY GOD?LESSONS FROM A BROKEN HEARTWHAT YOU MUST GIVE UPYOU NEED OTHERSREBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (1)REBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (2)REBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (3)REBUILDING YOUR MARRIAGE (4)THROUGH CHRIST, YOU CAN DO ITDEPEND ON GOD MORESTART SAYING, ‘I CAN’REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (1)REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (2)REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (3)REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR (4)PREPARE IN ADVANCE