THERE’S HOPE FOR YOUR FAMILY

Want to see your family do right; You do right!

Acts 16:31, And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

I was talking with someone the other day and they said, I can’t give my life to Jesus because I might lose my family. My heart was crushed because what they didn’t understand is what the Scripture teaches about being a witness. Consider that one verse in Acts. If you believe on the Lord, trusting, Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your family has a better chance of being saved with your witness! The Light of the Gospel you have within you will shine into the family and friends you come in contact with. They will see the difference Jesus has made in your life.

Do you want to see your family do right? Do you want to see your family start living for the Lord? Do you want to have the peace of God that passes all understanding; for you and your family? Do you want the hope for your family that Jesus offers? Then, start living for the Lord! Give your life to Christ!

FAMILY MATTERS

The family is the first form of church on the earth.

1 Timothy 5:8, But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Satan has been attacking the family since the Garden of Eden. He attacks because he knows this is God’s design to teach children to depend on Him. Society attacks the family, so that families will come to depend on the government. This is why we should provide for our family.

The Word of God puts a lot of importance on the family! If you have a family, fight for it! Invest in it! Provide for it! Don’t provide for it just with your finances. Give your family Jesus. Give them your time. Give them… YOU- because family matters!

THANK THE LORD FOR FAMILY

           This week, I want to thank the Lord for different things He has provided. I’m starting with family because your family will share joy, be there for one another in times of disappointment, and share values of this life that are right and true, making us faithful to the Lord Jesus. Family will stick with you when you have totally messed your life up. Family will forgive quicker than others. Family will help you when there isn’t anyone else to help. God ordained the family to be that way and I am thankful for both of mine; my human family and my church family.

            In Daniel 2:23, the Word of God says, “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.“ What makes family great is the God of the family! It’s not Grandma or Grandpa. It’s not Mom or Dad. It’s not the Children or Grandchildren. It’s God and God alone!

            Today, be thankful for the family God has provided for you! But even more than them, be thankful to the Lord for giving them to you. I sure am thankful for mine because they have helped me become the man that I am!

CHRIST FAMILY

I’m a child of the King!

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Being in the family of God has many privileges. We have peace, love, joy, contentment, and the list goes on and on. The riches we have in Christ are innumerous. But one of the greatest things we have in Christ is when this life is over, we get to live with Him in Heaven for eternity!

            Are you a child of the King? Are you a part of His family? If you are then live like it! Do you know you are rich in Christ? If you do, then live like it! Rejoice! Praise God! Tell others about Him! Tell them about His goodness, grace, and good time living for the Lord!

ARE YOU THE LORD’S?

           Take care of your life; and the Lord will take care of your death. -Whitefield

Romans 14:8, For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

            Being a child of God has its benefits. The number one benefit I can think of this side of eternity is the peace in knowing where I am going when I die. I don’t have to worry, I’m in God’s hands. I don’t have to fret, I’m in God’s hands. I don’t have try and figure it out, I’m in His hands. I don’t have to think about it, I’m in His hands. I don’t have to work any harder, I’m in His hands. Are you the Lord’s? Do you have that assurance? If not, you can! “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13  

NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF FAMILY!

Time spent with family isn’t spent at all, it’s an investment!

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1 Timothy 5:8

Remember going to Grandma and Grandpa’s every weekend and they would spoil you to death? Remember when Mom would sacrifice her rest so you could have fun on the play ground? Remember when Dad would stop working on the car to put the chain back on your bike? Remember when your brother or sister stood up for you when the class bully picked on you? How is it we don’t have time for family anymore? Why is it we don’t value family anymore?

I understand we can’t get together every weekend with family. I understand we can’t stop everything we are doing just to spend time with family. But when and if it is possible, provide for your family, spend time with your family, invest in your family, because when it’s all said and done, nothing takes place of family!

UNTIL NEXT TIME FRIEND!

Insomuch as any one pushes you nearer to God, he or she is your friend. –Anonymous

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9

We are saying good bye to a great friend today! Brother Russell Pruitt has been my friend for 10 years. He has been a person I can talk to when I could go to know one else. He has given me sound advice, even when I didn’t want to hear it. He has been a blessing to my family and I in more ways than one. To say good bye isn’t what we want to do but what we must do in order to serve God where God has us planted. Bro. Russell may the Lord bless you as you travel today and bless y'alls ministry in Montana! Love yah Bro!

GOOD FRIENDS ARE HARD TO COME BY!

No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth. -Anonymous

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

This past weekend I was privileged to doing a reading at a friend’s wedding. The reading, in and of itself was great, but if any of you know me then you know I had to put a personal touch on it. As I was sitting there preparing for what I was going to say, I looked around and thought about the friends that had come out to support both the bride and the groom. The Lord brought to remembrance an old saying, “If a man has one true friend he is truly blessed.” I had the bride and groom look at the wedding attendants and said, “You truly are a blessed couple.”

While we can be thankful for the earthly friendships we have made over the years, nothing compares to the friendship we have in the Lord Jesus. When an earthly friend cannot be with you all the time, Jesus is with you always! When an earthly friend lets you down, Jesus will lift you up! When an earthly friend stabs you in the back, Jesus will heal the wound with the forgiveness He has given you. But the greatest thing about the Lord is…He came to us!

Friend, there is no other friend like the Lord Jesus! He is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother!