A The Baptist Deacon

Baby Watch

deaconfarley | January 28, 2008 13:45

My family is now officially on baby watch as my brother and his wife are expecting their first child. Her official due date was Friday the 25th, which came and went without a birth. Her doctor historically will not let a pregnancy go very long past a due date. Nicole has an appointment with her doctor this afternoon so who knows maybe my next post will be about baby Madison. I pray everything goes well and with no complications.

 

So with the above comments being made what makes a good mother or father? Is it providing a loving home, keeping food on the table, sending the child to school, seeing that all there wants are met or spoiling the child? I could go on but let’s stop here for a moment. Every child is probably at least a little spoiled unless they are in an abusive situation. Let’s not kid ourselves there are abusive parents out there. How could someone abuse something so precious? That could be a question for a different day.

 

I believe that there is nothing wrong with the things I just mentioned (except for the abusive situations) even the last two if in moderation. As a parent myself I want to see that my children get everything that they want (providing it is a good thing), but is it realistic? I will answer that question and say no. One reason which is the biggest reason I simply can not afford everything they want. The second reason which is important as well is a child has to be taught that in life they will not always be able to get what they want.

 

As a Christian parent providing a loving home is a requirement as is providing the things that are needed (not wanted but needed).  Now good parents that are not Christians want this same thing as well.

 

Now let’s talk about parents that are supposedly Christian parents who wake up on Sunday mornings and choose to do something other than take there children to church. Once in a while it might be okay, but Sunday after Sunday? Do they want there children to saved when they reach the age of accountability? Where do they want there children to learn about Jesus at? Is this something they want them to learn from there friends? Sometimes even the best of friends will mislead you when it comes to the bible. It could be that their friends believe differently than you. Do they want them to learn from a complete stranger or even worse an internet site that believes that anything goes? I will tell you that if you are a parent and  if you don’t teach you children about God they will learn from somewhere, then they will be able to draw there own conclusion about God. Will it be the conclusion you want them to have? What if they get it in there mind that God does not exist? What then? A set mind is a hard thing to change, especially when the world offers so much to try and convince them there is not a God. Is this what you want for your children?

 

Let’s look at what Proverbs 22:6 says: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Who is supposed to train the child? The school teacher, the best friend or the world? Train children, not in the way they would go, that of their corrupt hearts, but in the way they should go; in which if you love them, you would have them go.

 

Look at Mark chapter 10 verses 13 – 16   13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.  14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

 

A child is a precious gift from God. The world gets more wicked each and every day. So whose responsibility is it to teach your child about God? As a parent it is your responsibility to train your children in the way they should go. Jesus said “forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.”

As a parent living here below your greatest responsibility is to your children!

 

 

Marriage | Permalink | Add comment | Trackbacks (0)   Print View

58 years of marriage

deaconfarley | January 28, 2008 07:16

I am not a professional writer nor have I ever claimed to be. I have figured out how to use spell check, so hopefully there want be any misspelled words to deal with. 

I have a lot of ideals for things to write about on this blog. I believe the ideals I have so far are by divine inspiration. When I first saw this forum I was strongly impressed to contribute a small part. With each new entry it is my prayer that I will be able to express my thoughts in a way that is pleasing to God. I am not “politically correct” concerning the things of the world – but that will be topic for another time.

This brings me to today’s topic. 58 years of marriage.   

This is what my grandparents celebrated yesterday. Now in today’s world it is unusual for marriages to make it for ten years let alone 58. In fact more than half of all marriages now end in divorce. What makes a marriage last? Even some couples who go to church wind up in divorce.  

Now divorce has been around sense the days of Moses.

 Deuteronomy 24

 VS1. When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

Now you need to read the next few verses in Deut. 24 to get the best understanding of what is being said and the conditions being set forth. 

In Matthew chapter 5 starting at verse 31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:  32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

The world as a whole misunderstands divorce. They are under the impression if this one doesn’t work out then I will just get rid of him or her and get another one.

Matt. Ch 19: 3-8 3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?   4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

God never intended for a man to divorce his wife or vise versa. I will ask again what makes a marriage last?  

It takes a lot of give and take, compromise, a unwillingness to give up and a lot of prayer.

The devil is as a raging lion seeking to devour whoever and whatever he can. Divorce is one way he can do this.

 

Now I believe that all options should be exhausted before divorce is considered.

I know divorce is a topic no one wants to talk about. Its not popular to hear the truth. I could write a lot more on this subject and get deeper than I went today, but I believe this is a far as I need to go for now.

 

I look forward to reading your comments – good or bad so feel free to comment. You can also send me stories by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

 

May God bless and keep you!

 

Until next week… 

Marriage | Permalink | Add comment | Trackbacks (0)   Print View

 
Accessible and Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict and CSS
Powered by LifeType - Design by BalearWeb - Hosted by New Technologies.