Commandment With A Promise

Let me paint a picture...

A mom and daughter are in a clothing store shopping one Saturday afternoon. The daughter begs her mom to let her go in "Hoochy-R-Us" to look for some new clothes. After a few minutes of wining from the daughter, the mother gives in and and she and her daughter head on into the store. The first piece of clothing the daughter picks up is a black shirt that is backless and has a PLUNGING neckline. And the argument begins...

I'm going to be honest...I do not always get along 100% with my parents. I am certainly NOT proud of it. I do argue sometimes when I don't agree with what they say. I mean, I love my parents and I value their opinions, but sometimes I just don't agree with them. God has really convicted me about this sin of arguing in my life recently.

Did you know that in the Bible God never said that children had to agree with their parents? OK, so I don't have to agree with them...but what does God say about my relationship with my parents? Well, it does say in Ephesians 6:1-2 that children are to honor them.
(Honor meaning to love, be reverent towards, obey, and assist in all things.)

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother; which is the first commandment with a promise..."

When you honor your parents in everything, you will be blessed. You might not see the rewards for honoring them here on earth, but you will be rewarded when you meet your Savior face to face.

In Deuteronomy 5:16, God says that if you honor your parents, then your life will be long and happy.

"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you..."

Also, in Colossians 3:20, God says that if you honor your parents, you will make Him happy.

"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."

Next time that you don't agree or argue with your parents, remember that God placed them in your life for a reason and that He smiles upon children who obey.

(For further reference, read Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16)

Poem: A Year Untried Before Me Lies

A year untried before me lies.
What it shall bring of strange surprise,
Of joy, or grief, I cannot tell;
But God my Father knoweth well.

I make no concern of mine,
But leave it all with Love divine.
The sun may shed no light by day,
No stars at night illumine my way.

My soul shall still have no affright
Since God is all my life and light.
Though all the earthly lights grow dim,
He walks in light who walks with Him.

No ill can come but He can cure,
No word doth all of good insure:
He’ll see me through the journey’s length,
For daily need give daily strength!

-Author Unknown-

Have You Counted Lately?

"Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings...name them one by one....count your many blessings, see what God has done."

Last week at church we sang this hymn. It fits just perfectly for the time of year because it's the holidays. Thanksgiving. Christmas. New Years.

I know I know...we have sung this song many times before and we know the words...but do we ever really think about the meaning of this all to familiar hymn's words? Do we count our blessings? Do we really thank God for ALL that He has done for us?

As I'm writing this, I'm getting this image in my head of a child sitting at the dinner table during Thanksgiving dinner telling their mommy and daddy all that they are thankful for. The child proceeds to tell them that he or she is thankful for their teacher, their pet, their favorite toy, etc. The child's parents believe that this is all the child is going to say and giggle at the child's innocents and proceed to say "That's great, sweetie." Then the child pauses, with a pondering look on his or her face. After a couple of seconds, the child says, "And mommy and daddy....I'm thankful for what Jesus did for us."

"For God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Next time you pray, thank God for His salvation and His great, great love for us. Remember what He did. Remember the Ultimate Sacrifice...and thank Him for it.

Nation's Repentance

Tonight I attended a presentation at a local church on God and government that was extremely fascinating. The man that was leading the presentation referred to this prayer and I thought that you might like to read it.

The original prayer was delivered on January 23, 1996 by the Reverend Joe Wright to the Kansas House of Representatives in Topeka, Kansas.

"Heavenly Father, We come before you today to ask your forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we've done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.

We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your Word and called it moral pluralism.

We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.

We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy.

We have coveted our neighbors' possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us O God and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by you, to govern this great state.Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the name of your son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."

After The Election...

Well... the election is over. I have to admit, when I first saw the words on the TV screen "Breaking News: Obama Wins The Presidency", I was a little shocked. OK, little is an understatement. I was befuzzeled! (And that isn't even a real word!) I was thinking, 'OK God. What are You up to? I know You're in control and you're going to take care of us, but I don't understand your plan.' Then the thought popped into my head: "Anna, My thoughts are not your thoughts. My ways are not your ways; My ways are higher than your ways."

Please continue to pray for our leaders, even if you don't agree with what they stand for. "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44, ISV) I don't know about you, but when I hear about people who believe in everything that I'm totally against, I view them as my enemy. Well, Jesus said that we are supposed to pray for them, and not only that, but we're supposed to love them too! I have to admit, I haven't done either as often as I should! (Lord, forgive me.)

This is the time for the children of the most high God to stand up and speak out for Christ. He has given us an opportunity and we should be obedient to whatever He asks us to do.

Next time you pray, just remember our leaders and our country after the election.

Pray For Eli

There is a little boy named Elijah that needs your prayer. He is less than 2 years old and is in the hospital with his liver and kidneys failing. It would take a miracle for him to live.

But my God is BIG enough! He is the one "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine". Nothing is too big for my God and I'm trusting Him with the impossible. But whatever happens is His perfect will as long as we are seeking Him. I'll praise him no matter what and I know that Elijah's parents will too.

Please pray for Elijah and his family. They are going through a very rough time right now and they need your prayers. Thank you and God bless.
(I'll update later and tell you how he is doing.)


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Day 25- October 30- Colossians 4:2-6
Pray for your personal witness for Christ to be strong at this time.

Day 26- October 31- 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
Praise God for the privilege of serving Jesus at this time in history.

Day 27- November 1- 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Ask the Father to strengthen you and empower you as His minister.

Worship Time

For the past 6 weeks we have been studying the Experiencing God (youth edition) bible study at my church. Each chapter of this bible study is divided up into sections (0r days) and each section is on a different subject that revolves around seven key truths.

One of the themes for week 4 was based on worship. The workbook asked its' readers to spend some time worshiping God. Of course for me this was my favorite part about the whole bible study. I love to worship my Saviour!

So for almost an hour, I just sat in my room, played my guitar, and sang praises to my heavenly Father. I sang:

" I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You. Oh my soul, rejoice. Take joy my King in what You hear. May It be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear."

Also, I sang songs like "How Great Is Our God", "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace-My Chains Are Gone", and "God of Wonders."
The book then asked me to summarize what I thought about that time of worship. This is what I wrote:

"I long to love my God with ALL my heart and I long to show God that love in my worship time. He is worthy of all my praise, and I want Him to know that in my worship time.
Worship for me is the time that I feel like I'm truly in the presence of God. I know that God is always with me, but worship just reminds me of His presence."

I really enjoy these times of worship when I can praise my Savior and Lord, not just for what He has done for me, but also for who He is.

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Day 16- October 21- Matthew 19:4-6
Pray for leadership that will protect God's definition of marriage.

Poem: Do The Next Thing

From an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the doors, the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration, “Do the next thing.”


Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
Trust that with Jesus; do the next thing.


Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all resultings; do the next thing.


Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing;
Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.

-Author unknown-

Wardrobe Check!

I was in Walmart the other day with my mom buying groceries. Mom and I had turned the corner of an aisle and I noticed a women and a teenage girl walking together in front of us. I didn't really pay any attention to the women, who I assumed was the teenage girl's mother, but the girl stood out to me.

She was around 14 or 15 years old and was wearing way to much eye-makeup, specifically eyeliner. She was wearing a thin tank top with a low scoop neck and really tight short-shorts. Let's just say that she was trying way to hard to be noticed. I thought ' I would never wear that!' and even if I wanted to, my mom would never let me leave the house looking like that! She turned and looked at me and I noticed how unhappy she looked. When I saw her face it made me really think. I thought to myself that I wish that all teen girls felt precious and loved. I wish that all of them felt they were worth more than the cheap way they present themselves.

All of these thoughts popped into my head faster than a speeding bullet. I was flooded by the Spirit with a longing for the girls of my generation to realize the great value that God places on them.


Next time that you open your closet, think about the way that you present yourself and the way that others will see you. Is your wardrobe God-honoring?