The Providence or The Provider ?

Many of us find our joy and satisfaction in the things that we possess.  These can be things like money, material possessions, position, or influence.  However, if we do not learn to use these things according to God's will, they can hinder us instead of helping us.

Do I love and trust Him just because of what He does for me?  What about when the blessings disappear?

Job 2:10 [NIV]  He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman.  Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”    In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Job had to answer these questions when catastrophes claimed his children and demolished his entire estate.  His wife advised him: "Curse God and die!" [Job 2:9](NIV).  Instead, Job asked, "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" [Job 2:10](NASB).  Yes, Job struggled after his tragedy - he became angry with his friends and questioned the Almighty.  Still, he vowed, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" [Job 13:15](KJV).

Job's affection for his heavenly Father didn't depend on a tidy solution to his problems.  Rather, he loved and trusted God because of all that He is.   Job said, "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength" [Job 9:4](NASB).

The reasons why God blesses our lives with physical prosperity is so that we might be generous and give away what we have to others who are in needs. 

Our love for God must not be based solely on His blessing but because of who He is.

[Our Daily Bread : Jennifer B Schuldt 24/06/2011]

FOCUSING ON THE CHARACTER OF GOD HELPS US TO TAKE OUR EYES OFF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES

E.N.D.

Emotional Neglect and Depression appear to be the biggest problems among Malaysian children, if calls to the country's first 24-hour helpline for children, 15999 Childline are anything to go by. Forty percent of the children calling the helpline had symptoms of psychosocial and mental health problems. Of the 5,127 calls that Childline received since its launch on November 20 last year, 2,044 were from children who were bored, lonely, stressed or depressed, with some even having suicidal tendencies. Some were as young as 4 - most were latchkey kids.

[New Sunday Time 18-Dec-2011]

Children want our time and attention. They want to give and receive affection. They also want to play and eat together as a family, to jump and run, to climb and explore. They want to go to bed each night knowing that they are safe and loved.

The foundation of a child is how we as a parent bring them up physically, spiritually and mentally.

Parents roles are to prepare them to leave us as independent, emotionally resilient beings with a strong moral and social compass. That means being loving and kind while setting clear behavioural boundaries and consequences, positive as well as negative.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. Proverbs 29:17

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Training For Life

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. - 1 Timothy 4:7

Spiritual fitness takes much more than a relaxed approach to live a God-honoring life. In a culture marked by false teaching, along with extreme forms of self-indulgence and self-denial, Paul wrote : Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. [1 Timothy 4:7-8]

Our bodies and our minds are to be dedicated to God and prepared for His service (Romans 12:1-2). The goal is not spiritual muscle-flexing but godliness - a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Vigorous study of the Word, focused prayer, and bodily discipline are all part of the process. How well we train greatly affects how well we run our race of life.

GODLY EXERCISE IS THE KEY TO GODLY CHARACTER.

[Extract from Our Daily Bread - written by David McCasland]