Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mothers are like blooming flowers, pretty when they show
loving hands upon their children guiding them to grow.

Mothers are like starry nighttime, twinkling ‘cross the sea
gracious acts of kindness shining bright forall to see.happy flowers

Mothers are like blowing zephyrs, tickling at your nose
whispers true of good behavior, moral equipoise.

Mothers are like raging billows, wondrous to behold
Always moving purposely, so do as you are told!

Mothers are like tiny kittens, snuggling sweetly soft
With the smallest bundles new and wriggling, giggling oft.

Mothers are like holy temples, solemn, pure, serene
Worshipping their one Creator, steady as a beam.

Mothers are like many things that never could be named.
That’s why God created them with everlasting fame.

 

 

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Godly Wives and Mothers

Godly Wives and Mothers

Godly wives and mothers. There is nothing else on earth quite like them, or anything else on earth that quite compares to them. This,as seen in their constant, continual, and consummate Christ-like love, and the totally selfless and sacrificial lives they live. This is not just something they simply do, but is something they truly are.mothers day

As such, according to God, they are totally priceless (Prov. 31:10); infinitely trustworthy (vs. 11); and ultimately,one of the greatest and most beneficial blessings known to man (vs. 12). She is a willing and tireless worker whose only concern is for those whom she loves; for those who are less fortunate; and for the respect and reputation of her household (vss. 13-24). Her godly strength, honor, wisdom, and kindness are unsurpassed, unsuppressed, and therefore help to provide a bright and glorious future for both her and her family as well (vss. 25-26). She is always watching, always working, and therefore always worthy of the praise and adoration of her children, as well as that of her infinitely blessed and privileged husband (vss. 27-29). Indeed, as Proverbs 31 concludes: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (vss. 30-31).

To all of the mature godly women among us today – wives, mothers, and grandmothersof all generations and designations – we want you to know that you are:truly a blessing beyond words; an inspiration beyond imagination; and a gift from God to each and every one of us blessed enough to know and love you. Thank you for letting us see Jesus in you – and not just today, but each and every day you live. May God continue to bless you all, as you continue to so selflessly serve, show us, and shine forth the light of Him, whom you so much love and seek to emulate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Caring for your Animals

Caring for your Animals

“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10 KJV) For the Israelite people from every walk of life domesticated animals and livestock were an everyday part of life. In their agrarian society, most Israelites were involved with animal husbandry. Sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, horses, and camels were all depended upon for food, burden bearing and transportation. They kept domesticated cats and dogs to deal with various types of vermin and probably sometimes as pets. The Law of Moses had a number of commandments regarding the proper treatment of their animals. But with so many animals involved in their lives, there could be a tendency toward neglect and mistreatment of animals, even cruelty.animals pets

A righteous person, who has taken responsibility for the life of an animal understands the needs and the proper care of those animals. One of the things that stand out about the American cowboy was the way he would take care of his horses. After a long hard day in the saddle, he would be tired and hungry and would certainly be looking forward to dinner and rest in the bunkhouse, but before he would do anything for himself, he would unsaddle, rub down and groom his horse, and then feed and water it. A good cowboy understood the needs of horses and always carried essential  horse health related gear. He knew how treat it for the most common injuries. He carried extra shoes and could shoe a horse on the range, if the need arose. A cowboy who mistreated his horse would be shunned by most good men and would not last long as a cowboy.

Many people today keep pets or have livestock, not to the same extent that the Israelites did, but we still have those responsibilities. In fact, keeping a pet is often a way we choose to teach our children to be responsible. When a righteous person accepts responsibility the care and needs of an animal, he or she must do everything they can to see to those needs. Does God care about animals? Yes, He does, even as He cares about all of His creation. Does He care how we treat his creatures? Yes. We are to practice good stewardship toward all that God has given us. A righteous person is never cruel to or mistreats any of God’s creations!

Read Psalms 50:10-11; Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 25:4; Luke 12:6-7

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A Limited View of the Harvest

A Limited View of the Harvest

When Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (John 4:35), His disciples really had trouble understanding what was being said. They were in Samaria and the apostles, because of their Jewish background, had never seen that Samaritans had souls. Jews avoided, as much as they could, any contact with this mixed race in Samaria. Jesus’ use of the word “already” shows that He saw Samaria as a field ready to be reaped for God.

These apostles had to be shocked at the words of Jesus, but in just a few months they saw what Jesus saw.  They saw souls, even those in Samaria. Just before His ascension, Jesus gave His plan to evangelize the world using these words: “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It appeared that some heard these words this time and understood them.

The church began in Jerusalem and when persecution arose, the Bible shows that they went to Samaria. When the Samaritans believed and obeyed the gospel, these apostles then knew His plan that involved from Jerusalem to Samaria. The apostles were part of the beginning of the church and before them were the white fields of Samaria.  What happened? Luke describes the response using the word “multitudes.” The apostles seemed to have understood His great commission. They sent Peter and John to them that they might lay hands on these new Christians so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

However, their view of white fields was limited. Some of those early Christians went to Antioch in Syria, and some Greeks, likely proselytes, became Christians (Acts 11:19-20). But most in the church still did not see the white fields. It is true that Peter said on Pentecost that the promise of the Spirit would be given to as many as the Lord called, but he failed to see that it included those who were far off—the Gentiles.

It was the miracle of the Spirit coming on the household of Cornelius that started opening their eyes. God had shown that He accepted any person in every nation who feared God and did His will (Acts 10:34-35). The great commission of Jesus was to preach to every creature. The church was so slow in seeing this.

What is the application of what we have just said? It is for each of us to lift up our eyes. We have no right to pre-judge others before we teach them! We are now focusing on mission work here at Palm Beach Lakes.  Remember that world evangelism begins at your front door and goes around the world. Is it possible that we are not seeing our white fields? As you walk away from the church building, you are in His mission field!

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Seeing Souls, not Just Seeing People

Seeing Souls, not Just Seeing People

I remember as a young missionary the words of another missionary in New Zealand. We were discussing how to better find individuals to teach and how to lead them to Christ. It was hard to find those interested in the Bible in New Zealand as we tried to do our work. He then said something I will never forget. “Dan, are you still seeing souls?”soul people

The world is lost and every person you meet is a soul, but sometimes we fail to see those souls. Christ died for the lost, and our responsibility is to take the gospel to the lost. There is a vast difference between seeing people and seeing souls.

Unlike us, Jesus always saw souls. The classic illustration is Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. She was amazed that a Jew would even speak to her. She asked Jesus why he would even ask her to give him a drink from the well. Her reason? “The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans“ (John 4:9).

Jesus was so different from the rabbis of His day. One description of them is found in Robertson’s Daily Bible Study. He says, “A rabbi might not even speak to his own wife or daughter in public. There were even Pharisees who were called ‘the bruised and bleeding Pharisees’ because they shut their eyes when they saw a woman on the street and so walked into walls and houses!” Jesus was not like them. His apostles were so amazed that Jesus was talking to a woman of Samaria but did not ask Him about His actions (John 4:29).

Jesus saw souls, and He saw the soul of the woman of Samaria. The apostles saw her leave to return to the city, not knowing what she did when she came into the city. She told those there to come to the well suggesting that she had found the Messiah. The text then described how those in the city believed her and were coming to the well to investigate for themselves.

Do you know what Jesus said to the apostles as all of this was happening? “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (John 4:35). The apostles could have seen those coming from the city, and all they saw were Samaritans, a people with whom the apostles had no dealings. Do you know what Jesus saw? He saw souls! When they arrived at the city, they too found the treasures of Jesus. He saw the souls and spent two full days teaching them.

What about us? Do we see the souls of rude servers in a restaurant? Do we see the souls of those around us as we wait in a doctor’s office? Do we see the souls, or do we only think of how bad we are being treated?

The next time it happens, “Life up your eyes to the harvest.” It will change how you deal with others.

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