Praise the LORD!!!
This morning a very great fact about the fall of this nation and perhaps the nations of the world came to light through one of my devotional reads. The LORD deeply impressed this matter upon my heart and there is going to be a turning towards this topic in the ministry and all it entails.The current state of our world has a great deal to do with the fact that our homes have fallen apart. Not just the fact that they've fallen away from worshiping GOD as the binder that held them together, but in all other manors as well. The truly strange part about the article, which had it focus on a hymn written early to mid 1800's (it was written in 1990) is that there hasn't truly been a movement of the church to any great extent that focused on this topic. Yes, there have been single organizations that have focused on this, but this is just a band-aid on a major problem.
I'm going to give you a bit of this devotional, little clippings of it, so you'll see where I'm coming from and the extent (and time span) of this breaking up. Because it hasn't just been in recent years that this has been happening, it appears to go much farther back. How far I'm yet to see, but surely, will let you know when I can place my finger upon it!
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"This is the season when our attention is especially directed to the basic social institution in society, the home, with special days for recognizing mothers, fathers, and children. The strength of any nation is the quality of its homes. “In love of home, the love of country has its rise” said Charles Dickens.
Home should be the holy of holies in a person’s life, a place where ultimate love and acceptance are found between parents and with the children. The real test of a parent’s spirituality is his home life—the daily demonstration of a Christ-like character."
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions (162). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.
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In this first clip, we have that which focuses on basically we the parents and our duty to maintain a firm foundation in our relationships with GOD. For it is truly here that all relationships are grounded. For without a strong relationship with GOD as our starting point, all will fall apart. It is here that we must grow daily and strive to improve upon with every breath that we take. GOD, should be the focus in all that this world revolves around, for it is HE that set it all in motion and has formed the foundational laws and principles on which it is to function! We can't drive a car if we don't follow the standard operational principles of it. For you can get in and start it, but unless you put it into gear you'll be going nowhere. The same is true with our relationships with GOD. If we only start it, but don't follow through with all the details of it, we will go nowhere and fail to function in it to any extent. Yes, we will have salvation through faith, but where will the fruit of this faith be? There will be no signs of any change within a person's life if they don't exercise more then just the elementary principles of the Christian faith!
When we begin to move out of the starting blocks of our beliefs and begin to progress along the lines of our lives, using these basic principles of the faith, we begin to grow and prosper. But unless we take this growth and begin to revolve our total lives around it, drawing our families into it, there is truly no gain, but to self. If there is one thing the Christian faith is not centered on, it is the fact that it is for personal usage only. Christianity is supposed to be world changing in it's scope, not only the personal changes that will take place, but reaching out and grasping all those around it. We're told to go out along the highways and by ways of life to seek others, and this starts right within the walls of our own homes before it goes out to the world.
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"As parents, our responsibility is not only to feed and clothe our children’s bodies, but to nurture their spirits, their minds, and their moral values. By word and by personal example we must carefully guide our children and fervently seek to show them what it means to be a Christian. Good parenting also involves maintaining strong lines of communication between all members of the family. This demands quality time spent together in discussions, social times, daily spiritual retreats, and weekly periods of instruction and worship in the local church."
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions (162). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.___
Too often today, a family exist only within the confines of the house for a limited span of time. Even during these times it not functioning the way GOD set forth for it to though. The parents are off living their lives in one part of the house, while the children are off doing their own things. Life as a family, as set forth in scripture, seldom takes place for any great length of time. This mostly on a Sunday and that only for the time the family is gathered together for their church activities. Seldom do families united at the dinner table at meal times. Seldom do they experience any time together with our heavenly FATHER in Bible study and prayer. Seldom do they even work together to make their house a home. These are major problems within our society especially and those that are beginning to grow in their global reach. For much of the world sees the U.S.A. as an example to live by. This due to our past prosperity as a nation. With this comes the problem that as our nation falls into disrepair, so to does the world that mimics us.
The words of this author closely reflects those of scripture. Whereas we're given certain guidelines to form our family life around. Those of focusing our attentions upon a GODly life, exhibiting it within our own lives and using it as the hub which we teach to our children. All these can't happen unless we as parents draw closer to GOD in our relationships with HIM and also with those around us! It does no good for us to only practice our faith in private. We need to extend it to our mates, offspring and those that we associate with within our daily lives. We as parents need to realize that everything we say and do is being picked up on by those we rub elbows with. Be it our spouse, children, bosses or coworkers. We as parents and members of this great nation need to return to our roots. Focus our faith, practice our faith and pass on our faith to all those that share our existence here on planet earth. Let us begin to draw closer to GOD personally, but let us not forget to share it with all those around us. Starting with those closest to us and then radiating outwards to every single living and breathing soul that we come into contact with. Let is begin this today, so that change may begin in the tomorrows ahead!!! For only when the foundation is strong can it support a greater weight of a nation and a world. Thus our point of entry in this endeavor is that of building our foundations upon the 'ROCK' JESUS CHRIST. Only then can our families, nation and world change for the betterment of all and only then, if we remain in relationship with our SAVIOR!!!!!!!
Some verses to grow on along these lines: Josh. 24:15; Dt. 6:7; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 5:21-23, 6:4
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine Ministerial Network International
Thursday, May 27, 2010
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