I had some additional thoughts that connect to my previous article on honoring parents. I have been thinking a lot about this due to some things I have heard recently about children and their treatment of parents. The fact that we just studied this subject in my Bible class and the fact that our minister is having some lessons on the home has drawn my attention to what I am hearing from some of my friends regarding their children’s behavior.

I know one couple whose son has not had any consistent contact with them in many years. He has, on a few occasions, sent a text to wish his mom a happy Mother’s Day. He blames his wife, and his wife blames him. When his father was badly ill a few years ago, he wouldn’t accept phone calls from relatives to let him know of his father’s condition.

I have another friend whose daughter has “disowned” her parents because they spanked her when she was a little girl. I mean spanked. She was not beaten, and she admits that she was not.

Another couple we know has two sons. Neither daughter-in-law will make any effort to spend time with them. They plan holidays with only their parents, not their husband’s parents.

One other example is a young man who left home and refuses to associate with his family. His parents are devastated, but he refuses to be a part of his family.

All of these children are Christians. Some of them even attend church services. Based on our study last week, all of them are in danger of losing their souls.

I was doing some research on this subject and ran across an article by Tim Challis. He calls the command to honor your father and mother the forgotten fifth commandment. I think he may be right. How many sermons have you heard on this subject?

Mr. Challis offers some advice to children that makes a lot of sense. His suggestions give us a way to bring ourselves back to doing what God wants us to do in honoring our parents.

He first suggests that we forgive our parents. There are no perfect parents. Parents make unwise decisions. All parents have done and said things that have wounded their children. There are no perfect children either, so we need to forgive just as Jesus did. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 ESV).

 Second, speak well of them whether they are alive or dead. Paul says, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:7).

Third, we should show honor to them publicly and privately. Whether children want to admit it or not, they are a reflection of their parents. Failing to honor and show respect to them is a reflection on them.

Fourth, ask their advice. The Bible is clear about respect for older individuals—elders in the church and elders in the family. Paul tells Timothy to “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity” (First Timothy 5:1-2). If we are to treat everyone in the way Paul outlines for Timothy, surely our parents deserve the same treatment.

Fifth, support them. Be there for them. Encourage them. Pray for them. Let them know you care.

Finally, Take care of them. Provide for them. No one wants to be dependent on their children, but it is the responsibility of the children to care for parents, if it becomes necessary. We looked at First Timothy 5:8 in our lesson last week. It is so easy to just put parents in an assisted living facility or nursing home. That may become necessary, but that does not relieve children’s responsibility to provide whatever they need, including love.

In almost every instance I mentioned in the beginning, the children  are living lives against the teaching of the parents. One is involved in a same-sex marriage. One no longer believes in God. One has decided worship needs some additions, things are not authorized by God. Another goes from one congregation to another when something happens he doesn’t like.

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land” (Ephesians 6:2-3).

 Sandra Oliver

A compass is an instrument used for direction.  It helps determine where you are and how to get where you want to go.  Hopefully the Bible is your compass.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

In an article entitled, “How to Read a Compass,” the Compass Dude shares the benefits of owning one, “from telling which way is North to finding hidden treasure or following an unmarked path over wilderness terrain”  (http://www.compassdude.com/compass-reading.shtml). But to reap those benefits, you have to know how to accurately read a compass.

1. Know Your Basic Compass Reading

The Compass Dude explains the essential basics of how to read a compass:

• “Hold the compass steadily in your hand…”  The compass will be no use at all if we don’t pull it out and use it.  If it stays in our pocket or gets left at home, it will offer no direction whatsoever.  If we want the Bible to direct our lives, we must hold it steadily in our hands.  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16,17).  To reap the guiding benefits of the Word, we will study it daily before taking our steps.
• “Look down at the compass and see where the needle points.”  Sometimes we feel sure we’re going the right way or facing a certain direction only to pull out the compass and discover we’re way off course.  We must look at the Bible often to see how we’re doing and where we’re headed.
• “Turn your body while keeping the compass right in front of you.”  In addition to studying God’s Word to know His direction for us, we need to follow through with our actions (James 1:22,25).
• “Hold the compass level” and “read the correct end of the needle.”  These simple instructions make all the difference in accurately reading a compass.  In the same way, we must “accurately handle the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
• “Use common sense.”  Regardless of what the compass shows, some will continue going the wrong way or make choices based on their own misguided sense of direction.  We have the common sense to know and understand God’s Word.  We mustn’t twist it in order to try to conform it to our own feelings or to justify what we would like to believe is right (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).

2. Check Your Bearing

“By simply moving your compass with your body and using the N-E-S-W markings, you can get a good idea which way you are going…The direction you are going is called your heading.”  Since we are constantly on the move, changing, and being influenced, we need to continually look to the Word to check our bearing to see which way we are heading.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Joshua 1:8).

Heaven is where we want to go!   Let’s keep pulling out our Compass to make sure we’re heading in the right direction.

Kathy Pollard

As a nurse, time management is very important. There are often more tasks to do than it seems I have time for. Generally, what I do in the first 2 hours determines how the next 10 will go. Some mornings, I get right to work, doing full assessments on my patients, filling out their whiteboards, and bringing their early medications with a fresh cup of ice water. Now, I’m ready to take on my next task of charting all that I just did. Because as we nurses know, “if it isn’t charted, it didn’t happen!” If every shift started out this seamlessly, I would never need to stay a single minute late. However, it’s rare that something doesn’t pop up unexpectedly to throw me off my game. A patient rings the call button, “I need my nurse in here right now!” I drop what I’m doing and run to their room, expecting an emergency, only to hear, “I need you to scratch my foot.” Or maybe, upon assessing a patient, I notice her breathing is very labored. She’s more lethargic than an hour ago and her oxygen level has dropped. I stop everything else and this patient becomes my top priority. When all is settled down and she is better, all of my other patients’ medications are going to be late. Now, I’m behind on charting and still need to give insulin before lunch arrives. But what about my lunch? Because now I’m starving and can I even be a good nurse if all I can think about is my growling stomach? Well, it’ll have to wait because my goal has now become to everything without having to stay late.

This is a real world example of what happens in life. If everything could just go according to plan, we would have all the time in the world to prepare for the life after this. But does it ever? That’s a big NOPE. Life gets busy. Each day brings a new challenge or change to our schedule and we constantly have to alter our plans. Priorities shift and sometimes things that are the most important get put on the back-burner because we “just don’t have time today.” But after days and weeks of being on the back-burner, these “priorities” become no more than a small check at the very bottom of a seemingly endless to-do list. This is precisely how the devil wants it to be. A slow fade. If for months or years, we were in the habit of daily Bible study, constantly in prayer throughout our day, and then all of sudden that all changed from one day to the next, it would be very noticeable and we would work hard to get back to our happy and healthy state of equilibrium. But when this occurs over time, it’s less noticeable and sadly, bothers us less.

In healthcare, we talk to patients a lot about preventative measures. We give prophylactic treatments. Keeping you healthy by staying ahead of the problem is almost always better than treating one after it’s already become one. The same goes for us spiritually. How can we prevent this from happening to us? How can we manage our time and our lives so that our top priorities stay at the very top?

1. Pray about it. Ask God to keep you diligent in your prayer and study. Ask Him to make you more aware of how you are spending your time.
2. Plan your time. If you don’t already have a planner or some kind of daily agenda, consider it. Write out at the beginning of the week, how you will spend your time and include time each day for Bible study.
3. Find an accountability partner. If you know someone who is grounded in daily Bible study, consider asking them to be an accountability partner with you. Ask each other each day or each week how their doing in their studies and pray for each other.
4. Do a Bible study on time management. The Bible has plenty to say on how we spend our time and reading about it will be a great reminder for us! Ecclesiastes and James are a couple that come to mind.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

-Ephesians 5:15-17

Psalm 46:11 “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Selah” ESV

God skillfully utilizes unconventional means to serve His eternal purpose. One such tactic is the way God has always used our seasons of waiting. Times when everything was placed on hold served godly purposes through many of the stories in the Bible, and is also evidenced in the Psalms. Look at Psalm 46, (NKJV) and you will discover pauses dividing the song into three parts:

Verses 1-3 remind us we need not fear because our mighty God is greater than any crisis we may have.

Verses 4- 7 remind us of the peaceful and protective provisions of a loving God.

Verses 8-11 remind us to reflect on our glorious God and exalt Him above all others.

The overlooked part of this psalm is the word, “Selah,” and is found written at the end of each of the three sections of Psalm 46.  According to biblical scholars, this unnoticed word designated a pause or a break between thoughts. The psalmist provides the worshippers reflection time; time to meditate on the aspects of our mighty God. Knowing this, return to Psalm 46, NKJV.

Read verses 1-3 of a God greater than all your problems and who, through His love and peace, removes your deepest fears.

Now Selah! (Just pause to think about that!)

Read verses 4-7 of the numerous ways God has provided just what you need at just the right time you need it.

Now Selah! (Just pause to think about that!)

Read verses 8-11 of the works and protection of an ever-present God deserving of all your adoration.

Now Selah!  (Just pause to think about that!)

As we struggle to emotionally, physically, and financially survive this season of quarantine, taking a pause to reflect on a God who never fails us will bring clarity to our discouraging days. By observing a refreshing “Selah,” we will not merely survive, we will thrive in praise and communion with a loving Father.

Sisters, fill your soul as you “Selah” on this!

Father God, help us see the value of pausing to reflect on Your goodness.

Blessings for the Selah’s of your Day,

Rita Cochrane

This quarter, my lessons for my 4^th and 5^th grade class are on honoring different people. We have studied about honoring God, Christ, the church, our country, and our neighbors. Sunday’s lesson was on honoring parents.

Children this age don’t really seem to have issues with honoring parents. They don’t like the constant “do this, do that; don’t do this, don’t do that”; but they are more willing accept that as the norm. Some children rebel early in life, but I certainly do not see it with the children I teach in Bible class.

The lesson began with their telling me what parents do for them. I had the typical responses: they feed us, buy us things, provide a house, etc. When they had exhausted the list, we moved on to what God’s commandments are about parents. This is when things got interesting.

One of the passages of Scripture we read was from Deuteronomy 21. It is true enough that Deuteronomy is a long list of “thou shalts and thou shalt nots,” but that was part of the point. God makes the laws, and we are to obey them.

In this passage, God tells the people what is to happen if they have a rebellious son, and he won’t obey his father or his mother. The parents are to take him to the elders of his city and tell the elders their problem. Then all the men of the city are to take him out and stone him.

The children were shocked. They couldn’t believe God would authorize such a punishment. This followed with more discussion and explanation, and then we turned to Ephesians 6. The children listed the commands from God: children are to obey their parents in the Lord, and to honor their father and mother.”  Fathers are then instructed to not provoke their children and to bring them up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Here we established the reason for reading the passage in Deuteronomy. God’s command was to be obeyed. He does not authorize stoning for a rebellious child today, but He does demand honor and respect.

Eli dealt with rebellious sons. In First Samuel 2, we read how Eli approached the young men. Verse 25 says, “But they would not listen to the voice of their father.” According to Deuteronomy, these boys should have been stoned. Eli did not obey the commandment of God.

Samuel experienced a similar problem. Scripture says, “Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice” (First Samuel 8:3-5, ESV). In this case, the elders of Israel went to Samuel. They pointed out that Samuel’s sons did not obey him, but their solution was to request that Samuel ask God to give them a king to rule over Israel. The elders didn’t obey God either.

Honoring parents is a form of honoring all authority. Children honor God when they honor their parents. They dishonor God when they dishonor their parents. This is true because God commands that we honor our parents.

There are three reasons to honor parents. The first is that nature demands it. Paul says, “This is right” (Ephesians 6). Second, God’s law demands it. The Scripture says do it. Third, the Gospel demands that we do it. The passage says, “In the Lord.” The Gospel motivates children to do what the Bible says.

There is a blessing for honoring our parents. The promise is a long and good life. In the Old Testament, long life was proof of divine blessings and a sign of being in God’s favor. There is no guarantee one will live to a certain age, but those who honor their parents have a better life experience. That is because they are doing things God’s way.

Notice something about this command, both in the Old and New Testaments. There is no end to this command. It is forever. Parents don’t stop being our parents when we are grown and have families of our own. They still deserve respect and our support.

Ecclesiastes 12 records the concerns of getting old. Nothing works the same as when the writer was young, If children honor and respect their parents, growing old will at least not carry with it the worry they will be left alone or be mistreated. This is also a command. “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (First Timothy 5:8).

Whether it is the teens of the 60’s or any age, God’s commands stand regarding honoring parents. As Christian people we must respond to the authority of God to treat parents with respect. Mark 7:9-13 is a rebuke by the Lord to the Pharisees for lack of support of their parents. Jesus says plainly that they will die for their refusal to support them.

Rebellion is a sin. Dishonoring parents is a form of rebellion. Do something this week to show honor to your parents.

Sandra Oliver

I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. John 10.9-10

Doors come in different shapes and sizes. They can be made of various materials with bright or subdued colors. However, their purpose is a common one. They allow access.

Jesus is the door to salvation. He allows access to God through reconciliation. Only through him can one return to God. This door gives access to the church that Jesus established.

The church is a community of obedient believers that interact and work together to accomplish God’s mission on this earth. Jesus brings abundant life to those who follow him.

Vicki Matheny

Colossians 4: 6 “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” NKJV

My husband likes sports, golfing, and Jason Bourne movies. I like walking, cooking, and the Hallmark channel. We often chuckle at the truth of “opposites attract.”

In light of Nabal and Abigail, our differences seem petty. Talk about opposites! Notice I did not say “opposites attract,” for it is difficult to consider Abigail had any attraction to that man. Reading I Samuel 25, our hearts are sympathetic towards Abigail, for most likely hers was a typical arranged marriage, leaving her with no say in the union. Abigail had every right to be bitter, yet it was her husband Nabal who took that award!

While David and his men hid from Saul in the wilderness, David’s army approached wealthy Nabal seeking provisions in exchange for protection. Nabal rudely refused to help and foolishly delivered insults questioning David’s authority. By all rights, David was enraged.

It’s no surprise Nabal’s name meant “folly” or “foolish,” and he certainly lived up to it. Nabal chose to respond to David’s request with pride and arrogance, almost claiming many innocent lives. But looking closely at the story reveals another arrogant character: David.  David’s pride filled him with humiliation that sought revenge.

When alerted of her foolish husband’s insults to David, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, set her emotions aside, saw the task before her, and quickly rose to the occasion. Abigail intentionally chose grace. If anger was in her heart, the reader is never aware of it. We see only Abigail’s humility and kindness that inspired humility and kindness in David. Gratefully, Abigail’s influence provided David the opportunity to rewrite this potentially volatile chapter.

Sweet Abigail surely had faults but scripture never mentions them. Historically, Abigail remains forever blameless. Sisters, I needed this sweet example, for when interruptions appear in my tight schedule or when circumstances don’t go my way, self- control is a challenge. More often than not, my angry-eyes pop out and words seasoned with salt and full of grace are hard to come by.

Pride is power-hungry, painting unrealistic views of ourselves and others. Pride leaves little room for extending grace to those who need it most. Pride prevents us from forgiving others and from offering merited compliments. Pride segregates us, hindering us from connecting with those outside our demographic. But, possessing the humility of Abigail is possessing the humility of Jesus, and sisters, that guarantees our best life.

       Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross.”

Father God, may we fill ourselves with a humility that overflows in kindness to others.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

We’ve experienced some interesting things in the past few years, don’t you think? Some of it has been unpleasant, but I have seen so many good things come out of it. We’ve grown closer to our friends and family. In general, being kind to the strangers all around us! In times of struggle and disaster, helping the community in a very hands on way. Maybe we got caught up in some of the negativity in the beginning, but more and more I’m seeing positivity and the spread of it! At the start of a new year, I like to read over some of my favorite verses. These verses help me in a lot of different ways, and I’d like to share them with you.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble so that when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.” Isaiah 41:10

“You comfort me in my suffering, because your promise gives me new life.” Psalms 119:50

“My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all. No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:27-30

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good. Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies. You welcomed me as an honored guest. My cup is full and spilling over. Your goodness and mercy will be with me all my life, and I will live in the Lord’s house a long, long time.” Psalm 23

I want to start out the new year remembering what’s important. Rather, who is important. God’s love for us is so much more than our human brains can imagine.

“The only one who truly loved me to death.”

By Chelsea Pollard

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2.9

What is your purpose in life? So many people want to make a difference in this world leaving their mark. They want to exit this life with the certainty that they have made the world a better place.

You have the opportunity and the responsibility to do exactly that. The purpose of a Christian is the same as Jesus who came into the world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1.15. He makes it possible for mankind to once again have a close relationship with God. It is not automatic, but it is possible through faith and obedience.