HONORING MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER/2015

HONORING MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER/2015

   These little annoying greeting card declared holidays!  Mother's Day 2015.  I wrote extensively about the mail order flower shops, which was the best, which was such a headache.  I didn't publish that post because NONE were the best.  When all was said and done, it is about the same price to purchase your flowers at your local florist or grocer.  The mail order shops tack on so many fees.

   Needless to say, I ordered flowers more than a week in advance this year for my Mother for Mother's Day.  You say, "So?  Lots of folks send their Mom flowers."  I understand that.  But my Dad is dead.  

   I have been taking plastic flowers to his grave since he was buried.  I am still grieving my loss.  But I honor him by ordering flowers for both of his wives.  My Mother would receive them, of course.  My Dad's Widow also deserves them for the 42 years she was at his side.  She was a great wife to him.  So, to honor him, she also received flowers.

   The 10 Commandments are not the easiest thing to obey.  It is Matthew 19:  16 - 20 that is brought to mind.  Jesus had encouraged little children to be brought to Him, "for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."  16) Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"  17) and He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good?  There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

   O.K.  I understand the Commandments are "the law" and Christians don't live "under the law" but we live under grace.  I get that.  THEREFORE, since we live under grace, how much more important is it to be obedient?  We cannot earn our salvation.  However, we can put in an effort daily to be more like Jesus.  

   But wait, there's more:  18)  Then he said to Him, "Which ones?"  And Jesus said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS;  19) HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 

  I really want you to hear the next verse:  20)  The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept......(NIV)

   Wow!  Just wow!  I know the young man did not know with whom he spoke.  The young man was just that young and inexperienced.  

   Now, we all know that "love your neighbor as yourself" is not one of the "big 10".  "YOU SHALL NOT COVET" is.  These last six Commandments are dealing with our relationship to each other.  The first four deal with our relationship with God, Himself.

   I honor my Father in Heaven by keeping His Commandments in my heart and really putting an effort into obeying them.  This takes us back to 1 Samuel 15: 22:  "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

   This is simply a word of encouragement to you all in your daily walk with The Lord.  I know there are those who's Mother has passed on.  I know there are those who have come from dis-functional families.  There were no disclaimers when God gave these Commandments.  You are invited to leave a comment with the struggles and/or the triumphs you have obeying this and other Commandments.

   Let me make two points with this post:
1)  Honoring your parents is not a one day event.
2)  Fathers, consider your actions.  Your children are commanded to honor you, live in a way that does not put stumbling blocks in their pathway.

   God bless you and keep you.

   If you have not accepted the priceless gift of eternal life, like the young man in these passages was looking for, I encourage you to go to https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.    You will find information there that may be helpful.  

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com  and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.

  

  

HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER - COMMANDMENT # 5

HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER
COMMANDMENT # 5

   In Exodus 20: 12 in The Old Testament and again in Ephesians 6: 2 in The New Testament, God instructs His children to honor our father and mother and gives a blessing for those who do:  "that it may go well with you in the land that The Lord your God is giving you."  God blesses us when we obey Him, but this is the only commandment that comes with an expressed blessing.  That must mean that it is very important in the eyes of God and in our lives.

   1 Samuel 15:22 states that God reveres obedience over sacrifice or offerings:  But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the Lord:  your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?   Listen!  Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.  NLT

    My Dad died in December of 2013.  When I think of him, I realize that I was blessed much more than he because I did honor him.  His body is in the grave, but I have many memories of our relationship.  Those of you who have read my blogs realize the relationship we had.
 

   My Mother expressed her desire to come live with me almost two years ago.  The blessings I have received have been tremendous.  I have always made an effort to take care of her needs, but having her with me is just beyond words.

   My cousins also take care of their Mother.  She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  Don't you know how difficult it must be for them?  But it is also a blessing.  The time invested with her is a commodity that cannot be replaced, but I believe will be blessed 7 fold.  My cousins are also respected for honoring her.  You can't buy respect!

   How about you?  Are your parents alive?  Do you know them?  I would love to know your situation.  How do you honor them?

   God never said it would be easy to honor your parents.  He just instructed us to do it.  So, on this first day of a new year, in conjunction with our fund drive, let me extend an invitation to you to share with us how you honor your parents.  If you do honor them, or want to honor them, or are raising your children to honor you and your spouse, please take a moment to make a donation to this site.  Put your money where your mouth is and tell God that you are in this and will make this a priority for you and your family in this new year.  Blessings to you.

You are invited to leave a comment with your thoughts.  Please indicate if it is alright for us to publish your comment, as some comments are not for the public to know.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaslife.blogspot.com and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.

 

MY HEART IS CRYING

MY HEART IS CRYING

   There must be a pop-off valve between my heart and my eyes.  Today my heart is crying and my eyes keep filling with tears.  I can't find my motivation.  The minutes and hours and days are passing without my participation.  I really need to focus, but how?  It is like running a marathon in zero gravity.  My Dad has died.

   Memories come to mind, still shots and videos filed away in my mind of times we shared.  Most of them are relatively recent memories of times I gave him something, or he gave me something. 

   I zero in on the Ten Commandments.  The first of the Commandments that show us how we are to treat mankind is the one which tells us to "honor our father and mother...." 

   Let me get back to the recent memories I have of my Dad:  He installed a storm door for me.  I helped him get a roof on his storage building when the hurricane destroyed it.  He was always coming to my house to help me with one thing or another that would break down.  I made cookies and took them to him and shared a cup of coffee with him.  It was a love affair.  I encouraged him when he was down and celebrated victories with him.  We plotted and planned and stood together against all kind of foes.  I loved him and spent time with him. 

   Every Sunday was our day.  We had a time set aside that I would call him at least on Sunday.  Sometimes we talked throughout the week but I still kept the date on Sunday.  Keep in mind that I am female and was not ALWAYS right on time.

   I share these memories with you to give you an insight into the beautiful relationship we can also have with our Heavenly Father.  The give and take is real.  The more you give, the more He gives.  He gives those things which are priceless.  You cannot out give my Father.

   Also, you don't have to be a "victim".  If you don't have an earthly Dad, you can certainly adopt one, regardless of your age.  There is someone looking for you, even if they don't realize they are.  You can honor God by honoring someone who has no child in this world.  If you have an ornery Dad, stop trying to make him into what you want him to be and accept him for who he is.  The relationship may be one-sided, but it will be worth it in the long run.  Relationships are of God, and the MOST precious relationship of all is the one you cultivate with your Heavenly Father.

You are welcome to leave a comment with your thoughts.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.com and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.
  

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY 1 TIMOTHY 5: 1 - 8

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY

1 TIMOTHY 5: 1 - 8

 

    Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.  Treat younger men as brothers, (2) older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

   (3) Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.  (4) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.  (5) The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.  (6) But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.  (7) Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.  (8) If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE STUDY COMMENTARY

   The Apostle Paul said Christian families were to be as self-supporting as possible.  He insisted that children and grandchildren take care of the widows in their families.  The church has always had to balance financial responsibility with generosity.  It only makes sense for church members to work as hard as they can and to be as independent as possible, so they can adequately care for themselves and for less fortunate members.  When church members are both responsible and generous, everyone's needs will be met.

   The responsibility for caring for the helpless naturally falls first on their families, the people whose lives are most closely linked with theirs.  Paul stresses the importance of families caring for the needs of widows, and not leaving it for the church.  The church should support those who have no families and should also help the elderly, young, disabled, ill, or poverty-stricken with their emotional and spiritual needs.

MY THOUGHTS

   This is just a good time to remember that God expects you to care for your own families, and to do it with respect.  First your families, then your church.  There is also something else that is expected of you:  respect.  Respect yourself enough to be self-supporting if you are able bodied.  Do not expect anyone else to support you. If someone else is supporting you and you are able to work, then YOU are robbing God when they re-direct their tithes for your support.

   This reminds me of the time when Jesus was talking to the Pharisees. (Matthew 15: 2 - 6) They were asking Jesus why His disciples were breaking the law of the elders by not washing before they ate.  Jesus asked them why THEY were breaking God's law:

   (4) "For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'  (5) But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' (6) he is not to 'honor his father' with it.  Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition."

   Jesus confirmed that you are to take care of your family FIRST.  It is always nice to be able to take care of both your family AND your church.

What are your thoughts?

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com  and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.