One Reason God Gave Us Children

Proverbs 3:11-12 says 'Do not despise chastening of the Lord....For Whom the Lord loves he corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.'

God gave us children so that we would teach them and bring them up in His ways.

Indeed, Solomon's Proverbs three is basically a manual of guidance for the young. The verse above really jumped out at me in my study this morning. What first caught my eye is the part about a Father delighting in his son.

I began thinking of my relationship with Elijah. I hadn't previously thought about it in these terms but I DO delight in that little boy. And although I haven't had to administer very much discipline to him at this point in his life I certainly won't hesitate when the time comes because I do love him that much. And the bible says the Lord loves us the same way. WE are HIS children. And that we should not get discouraged when the Lord 'chastens' us.

Wow... If I didn't have kids I wouldn't have the complete understanding of that verse that I do now. It's hard to believe that in my younger days I was adamantly opposed to having children of my own.... I certainly have a different perspective now.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord thank You for making Your love for me love more clear through my understanding of my love for my own children. You are amazing. You are an awesome God. You are my holy Father. It is my desire that You do delight in me as I delight in Elijah.

Father God I'm sure that Brian delighted in Connor as I delight in Elijah. Lord I want to lift up my relationship with Connor to You this morning. And I lift Connor up to You, my King. He's growing up without his earthly daddy, and I can never replace Brian. But Lord I am here for Connor and I need Your help to be the best step dad I can be.

Lord our relationship needs You. This family needs You. THE ENTIRE WORLD NEEDS YOU, FOR THAT MATTER... But Father I want to have a better relationship with Connor. I don't need to be his best friend, but I need to be more to him than I currently am. And I believe that You require more of me than I'm currently giving to that situation.

Father God I love You. And I want to do Your will and be right in the middle of Your will for my life and the life of this family. Lord I can't do that on my own.

I need you Jesus, to come in and rescue me. Today I choose to live my life completely for You, my Worthy King...! And I give You the Glory for my successes and yes, even my failures because I know that when You chasten its only because You love me . Thank you, Lord. Thank you Jesus. And I pray these things in the power and glory and might of Your precious, holy name, Amen.

The Apostle Paul

What do we really know about the Apostle Paul...?

His real name was Saul of Tarsus. He was a tent maker by trade. He was very religious as a young man. He started out as a Pharisee, and was one of the greatest persecutors of Christians ever. But God used Him to begin a revival of unparalleled precedent.

I wonder if the Apostle Paul suffered from 'busyness'...? I think that possibly he did. Although he seemed to be completely busy being about the Lord's work. I'm wondering if there were moments when privately he wondered why God allowed him to go to prison...? God was definitely there working behind the scenes turning 'bad' situations into good.

I don't know. Possibly. But if God had not have slowed Paul down by placing him in prison the epistles might not have been written. And what about all the jailers and prisoners whom Paul witnessed to and converted...?

I think Paul was one cool character who didn't really sweat the small stuff. In Philippians 4:19, Paul writes: “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus...'

Paul really trusted God. He really loved God. What an awesome example Paul was...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I praise you. You are my King. You are the Creator and My deliverer. You have blessed me greatly. And I believe that you have a special call on my life and this family.

There is much going on with me spiritually right now. And my wife, well she's on fire for You Lord and I must say that it's contagious. Father God, help me to be bold like the Apostle Paul. Paul was always good at 'keeping the main thing the main thing'. He had a singleness of purpose, even before his conversion, he was at the top of his game as the most feared persecutor of them all.

Lord, I want to be at the top of my game for You. Let all my efforts today in every endeavor be done for Your glory. And let me not miss one single opportunity to witness for you, Lord.

Father God, I love You. I've been thinking lately about love and the depths of love. I know how much I love my wife and family... Especially little baby Elijah... That is as deep as I can physically love. Yet I know that the depths of Your love go way deeper than that. You are God. You ARE Love. Thank You Jesus for Your love that knows no bounds. Thank You for my life.

Help me to make the most of what You've given me. I'm leaning on You, Jesus. I know I can't get things done under my own power.

Father I give this day to you. Bless me and my day, oh Lord. Bless my family. Bless my business and the owners of the tennis club I work for. Lift up my students and their parents today, Father. Protect me and shield me from sin and temptation. You are my strong tower, Lord. You are my Fortress...! I am safe and secure in you.

Lord I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Why Are Things So Bad In The World...?

In times of difficulty, the Body of Christ has it's greatest opportunity to fulfill it's mission of which God calls us... And what is that mission...?

Go into all the world and preach the message of the Gospel to all creation.

And what is the message of the Gospel...?

The message is: God the Father sent his only son into this world to reveal the truth of the Father, to demonstrate His life, and to die on the cross in which HE paid the sin debt of the world in one act and as a result God has provided forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.

It is a simple message. It is THE TRUTH...! And it transforms a person's life...

Grace is the awesome message of the Gospel... And that should be the message on our lips to un-believers...

So what is the mission of the church, again...? -To carry the message into all the world, to make disciples of all men...

Are we fulfilling that mission....? Is First Baptist Church West Columbia fulfilling that mission...? Is Sam Chadwell fulfilling that mission....?

(Speaking for myself...) The answer is hardly, barely, not nearly enough...

Well, what am I going to do about that...? What are YOU going to do about it...? Ask God where you fit into His missions plan...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord your message is clear. You have called us to witness to the world. You want us out of our comfort zone and You want us to recognize the needs of those around us.

Oh Father I have been far too passive for far to long. Help me to be more bold. Help me to share my faith with others. Father when You open a door or window of opportunity help me to recognize and act immediately. My chance encounter with a stranger might be their only opportunity to ever hear the gospel.

Lord I'm sorry for all the missed chances. I'm sorry for all the God- ordained relationships that I've failed to make a difference. Father God. I want to do Your Will.

Thank You Lord for loving me so much that You died for my sins. The least I can do in return is give my life in service to You. Jesus You are my MAIN THING. Lord I love You. And I give this day to You.

In Your precious, holy name: JESUS CHRIST, I pray, Amen.