“Committed to the Absolute Truth of the Word of God”

Friend of the Family is a newsletter that is published quarterly by Biblical Family Ministries.  You will find articles on the family and other topics, as well as prayer requests and praises.  We hope you enjoy reading our latest edition of Friend of the Family!

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We are so very thankful for God’s loving care and provision for us, these last few months and for our entire life, as a matter of fact! What a journey we have been through! The Lord brought me through, without complications, a surgery I needed for a long time. I shared before about my wonderful dad’s home going on March 6th. Recently we had an earthquake and a hurricane. My big question is – How do folks who don’t know our Heavenly Father cope with all the things they have no control over? Our lives are a challenge each day and with the strength we receive from our Savior, we can face them and be joyful even if it’s tough. Not long ago the New York City mayor said he did not want any mention or reference to God, or praying at the 10 year memorial of 9/11. What a fool! We wondered when they were preparing for a direct hit of the hurricane, if he even thought about petitioning God for help in time of trouble. Our country is quickly trying to deny the God who made us, has given us liberty and a wonderful land in which to live. I wonder how long our merciful Heavenly Father will allow us to go on. He destroyed the whole earth in Noah’s time, because of their wickedness. He has warned us, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37 - a blessing to those who have accepted the free gift of salvation, but a dire warning to those who reject God and His plan to save mankind. I’m still so burdened for the lost in our extended families, our neighbors and the world. Why do they reject so wonderful salvation? We need to be busier than ever letting our light so shine!

Since this is our last Friend of the Family before the New Year, I would like to wish all of you a very blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2012. Maybe our wonderful Savior will return for us this year.

In our last article we made reference to I Thessalonians 4:17. To get the context let me quote in this article from verses 13 -17. Paul wrote, But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  

To appreciate these words we must go back to the first chapter of I Thessalonians where Paul commends and encourages these relatively new believers. In Chapter 1:9-10 he wrote, For they (the people around them) themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.  

As we take up these verses lets first notice that these believers who turned to God from idols and who began serving God, also turned, to wait for his son from heaven. The term wait, in this text, suggests confidence and expectancy. They were not waiting for tribulation, wrath or judgment. They were waiting for Christ to come from heaven. Notice that Christ is then described as the one who delivers (rescues or preserves) us from the wrath to come. Without question, the wrath of God is going to be poured out on this world, but Paul encouraged the new believers, as they waited for Christ; the one who would rescue them and preserve them from that wrath.

What blessed hope the believers at Thessalonica enjoyed. Their hope is our hope. It seems apparent however that some among these new believers died. Those who remained alive wondered what would happen to those who passed away before Christ returned. It is that question that Paul answers in chapter 4: 13-17. We will return to this text next time, but notice Paul’s own hope. In verse 15 he said, “...we which are alive...shall not prevent them which are asleep. Paul was looking for Christ too and expected Him in his own time. He also was not looking for tribulation, wrath or judgment. What are you and your family looking for?

                                     We are talking about fathers. Before we proceed however, I want to say a word to single moms. I grew up the youngest in a family of 4 kids. My single mom did her best, and the older I get the more I appreciate her. There were a lot of challenges in our home, but when I found Psalm 68:5 and Psalm 27:10, they made all the difference. You cannot be dad and mom; you are just mom. The Lord will be a father to your kids. Believe that truth and teach it to your children.

Now back to us dads. Think about this incredible text. It should humble, and strike a measure of fear into every genuinely caring father. Proverbs 17:6 says, Children’s children are the glory of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.  There is quite a message in this verse One thing it communicates is that dads get a head start in parenting. A dad does not have to begin the parenting experience by winning the favor of his child or earning his respect. God built into children the propensity to hold their dads in high esteem, to honor, reverence, and admire them. I am convinced that dads really have to drop the ball to lose the respect of their kids. It may have been before I ever knew Proverbs 17:6, that I saw its power in a very practical way. When I went to college, Tricia and I were house parents at a children’s home. We had 9 little girls, 24 hours a day. Except for a day off each week and one weekend per month, when the kids could go home with their “family”, we had them virtually as our own. What amazed us was that most of them were basically abandoned by their parents. There was one particular family of 4 girls and 3 of the 4 were in our cottage. The dad was the contact person and he was a disaster. I will not describe the life he lived, but he showed no concern for his kids. At the same time, the girls displayed an unbelievable loyalty toward him.  Indeed the verse proved true – the glory of children are their fathers.  I preach it like this – Dad, your children have put you on a pedestal, don’t fall off. I am stunned that so many do.

To be sure, children will love the mom who nurtures and cares for them, but the relationship of a child to dad is critical. Dad is the one, who should lead in discipline, training, correction, commanding and instructing. Just as significantly, he will set an example that his children will want to follow. As the child grows he will test his parents in many ways. His willfulness will one day meet his dad’s determination face to face.  Since there are no perfect dads and since dads make mistakes, God has established an incredible attachment between a father and child. A dad must strengthen and deepen that relationship. He must not destroy it.   

                                I love you – some of the sweetest words you will ever hear. I don’t love you anymore – some of the most heartbreaking words ever spoken.

What is love? How does it work?

Take a moment to think about who you love. Name them.  Now, think about what that means to you. How does it affect the way you act toward them, talk to them, or about them? Do you put them and their interests and needs before your own? What is the difference between how you treat those you may have just named and those you did not name?

Love can be defined under three headings. Simply put, there is physical love, emotional love and spiritual love. Those terms, by themselves, are not exhaustive, but they provide a basis for discussion and understanding. They need examination, because they are often confused.

There are physical aspects of love which are primarily reserved for a married couple, though a kiss or tender touch may be exchanged with a parent, child, sibling or special friend. Unfortunately, too many in today’s society put all their emphasis on the physical, and know nothing of the spiritual. What some call love might better be described as lust.

There are emotional aspects of love. Emotional love is strong or intense affection. There is nothing wrong with emotional love. In fact, I tell married couples that without strong affection for each other, they will have a pretty crummy relationship. A husband and wife should desire the company of each other more than with any other person. Beware if that is not the case for you. The “feelings” of love are fun and exciting. To “be in love” as it is often described, is wonderful. It makes the sad person happy and turns the grumpy soul into someone both pleasant and polite. I have seen the attitudes of young people transformed when that special someone comes into their life. Emotional love is fragile however. Emotions are those inner tensions we all experience, and as we all know, they can rise and fall very quickly. We will not go into the reasons why some people are so emotionally unstable, but we will note that scripture calls upon us to exercise self control. Emotion must not rise too high or fall too low. The bottom line, for the purpose of this article, is to recognize that emotion is not a suitable foundation for a relationship. Hurts come too often and run too deeply. To build a relationship on the durability of the physical and emotional is to build on the sinking sand of mere human strength and will. Tragically, the man and woman without Christ have little else to secure their relationship. It is no wonder that so many marriages are ending in divorce. A greater tragedy is found among born again Christians, who try to build on those same sinking sands. They do so, because they ignore the foundation of spiritual love. These marriages are ending in record numbers too. More next time.

THANK YOU!

A variety of circumstances have required us to combine our 3rd and 4th quarter FOF, so let me take this time to thank you for praying for us and giving toward our financial support. Your gifts enable Biblical Family Ministries to continue our labors for Christ. May the Lord grant to you and yours a wonderful 2011Christmas and a blessed 2012!