SHOULD WE PRAY FOR.....WEALTH?

"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" 1 Timothy 6:10
There is no one in this world who wants to be destitute, flat broke or maxed out with bills and stress. No, not one. In this lifetime, no matter which system of government  under which a person lives around the world, we need money to survive. Money is the currency (so to speak) that fuels an economy based on the multiplier effect created by God. If you have ever studied how economies, communities and even countries grow with a sane and balanced mind, it will established economies and markets to work. 

This is different than the pursuit of wealth for wealth’s sake, for which many have lost their minds, sold their souls, destroyed their families and even worse – damaged their testimony about the Goodness, Greatness and Holiness of God. The Bible tells us that the “LOVE  of money is the root of all evil”. NOT money in itself. It is like the age old debate on guns.  A firearm is a dormant weapon. A car is a machine on four wheels and a fighter jet is just a fast plane until a human being gets behind it and sends it into operation.

There are examples of people in the Bible and over the years who were just plain greedy and short-sighted in their pursuit of temporal and temporary wealth over what matters most – true riches in heaven. Nabal is a good example of a fat, disgusting man of greed, whose wealth was more important to him than sharing even a morsel of food to King David, who was on the run at the time from Saul. (Click this sentence to read full account of Nabal).

Then there was the man who desired to pursue wealth and business outside the will of God, and God replied to him "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'" (Luke 12:20). James warns us to be careful of this sort of conduct, in the pursuit and even our prayers for wealth, outside of the Will of God. James says: "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15)

Neither Jesus nor the Bible says that being financially secure, having money, or even money itself was a bad thing.  God tells us in His scriptures that it is the LOVE of money which is the root of all evil. Jesus created a gold coin in a fish’s mouth so that Peter could pay taxes for both him and Jesus. Jesus Himself proved the importance of Wisdom and Stewardship in personal financial management when He presented the importance of responsibility being fully equipped to start, finance and complete a construction job here in 

So, God’s economy is practical, honorable and sensible. He will provide for us to build that deck to have our children’s friends over so they’re not going off in strange places to be unaccountable. He will provide the mortgage financing for a new couple to buy their first starter home or  good working automobile, for us to get to work. This is how our God rolls. He is Yahweh Jireh – our God Who supplies all our needs- housing, food, transport and clothing.

So should we pray to be wealthy – yes – but only in Godly wisdom. Godly wisdom will then allow us to approach Almighty God in the proper manner to pray for the financial means to live, pay bills and even have enough left over for recreation and to help others.

Heavenly Father You have given us riches whose currency cannot be measured in terms of this present life, but whose value extend way beyond into Eternity. Thank You for the Gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah, Who became poor that we may become rich and this is the wealth we desire. This is the treasure which is more worthy and more lasting than any flim flam jam this dying age could offer. Thank You for not just giving us our daily bread, clothing, transport, homes, cars, vacations, jobs, health care and more but for blessing us, Your ungrateful people, more than we deserve. You even bless those who hate You without a cause. Even though they belong to their father the devil, You provide the same blessings, opportunity, good healthy and food for them as well as for Your eternal children.

So now, oh Lord, instead of praying for more and more possessions in this world, we pray that if it is Thy will to bless us more, in a certain way, may the overflow be used for the furtherance of Thy Kingdom, which is coming soon and whose ruler is Jesus. May the wealth which is provided, be used as a means to an end for provision to bring many to repentance and to the Knowledge of You - the One True God in Heaven, through Jesus Christ the King of all and Ruler and owner of all, amen and amen and amen.

(Photo Credit Here)

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S DECLARATION OF THE FIRST OFFICIAL THANKSGIVING DAY IN AMERICA (1863)

During the Civil War, in October 1863, the greatest American President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.. Thus, began one of the most important observances in western civilization, where citizens of an entire country give thanks to the One and Only True God in Heaven, for the blessings He has bestowed upon us all. President Lincoln knew the power of God, of prayer and of giving thanks where it was due. 

The fourth Thursday of every November is now the official day of Thanksgiving in America. For us Christians, every moment of every hour of every day of our lives, is the opportunity to give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, and His mercy, kindness and long-suffering, endure and last a lifetime to us! Amen. We also give thanks, on this glorious day (and each day) to our Great God in Heaven who saves us by His Grace, through His Son and His Sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary - Jesus Christ. To Him we declare "Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!  Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! (1 Chronicles 16:8-10)

Here is the official proclamation from President Lincoln, on the day he declared as our first Thanksgiving:

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.

Proclamation by President Lincoln.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of

fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. 

They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Credits:
Thanksgiving Photo: "Thanksgiving-Brownscombe" by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe - Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal 
Thanksgiving Meal: "TraditionalThanksgiving" by Ben Franske - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Commons - 
President Lincoln Photo: Public Domain (over 100 years old)

BRINGING UP DAUGHTER

"To her, the name of father, was another name for love..."

                                                                      Fanny Fern

Part 3 of 'THE FAMILY SERIES"

When I first started this series of family, earlier this week, I knew it would be easy to write about something I knew about - boys. As a father and a follower of Jesus Christ, I know what He expects of men. Therefore it is easy to pass that on to younger men or just people in general. Yesterday's blog got some major feedback from significant folks who blessed these efforts and provided more encouragement to proceed.


Raising and leaving a Legacy through a teenage daughter (through the eyes of this father) is another story. From time to time on this week, I could not help but analyze how to approach this, in a meaningful way....and came up with no major revelation!


Any mom, from across America, Canada, Australia, Finland or South Africa (where this blog is read) can do a better job than I could, explaining my own daughter Sarah. In fact, what I am noticing more and more on the internet or social media etc. is that the most popular blogs and websites, for families, are run by moms!

I have yet to come across any site run by a dad dedicated to raising girls. In my case, while I wish I had two or more daughters to raise, the one teenager we have at home now is quite a handful. At the same time, what a joy she is! What I have noticed, for the most part of daily life, no matter how the day went, at the end of each day, our daughter goes through this wonderful routine of hugs and kisses before bed with both my wife and I. This underscores not just our love as a family, but the impact we would appear to be having on her as parents.


Spending time with Sarah is uniquely different from the boys...and as it should be! I have been doing more, going on more shopping dates or movie dates with her, since our two sons got older and part-time jobs to pay for their car maintenance! Since way before Christmas, we have gone to fashion shows; teenage stores in the mall; fancy yogurt shops with her BFF's and the one that shocked me the most - the best World War II movie I ever saw - REDTAILS! In fact, I would not have even gone to see that movie if she didn't bug me to take her on opening night. Sure enough, she was one of the very few girls there in a large theater packed with men and a few wives!


Of course, all of the physical issues of growing from my baby 8 year old to preteen to teenager, are handled by Vicki, but developing this once in a lifetime relationship with my daughter has become one of the most exciting things of this past year! She is loyal and very strong-willed.  Just like her brothers, she was saved as a young child. Unlike most adults, who claim to be saved, she can remember when it happened and can discuss the Gospel in real terms. Just this past week, I was explaining what  Cessationism is, after she revealed a certain incident that happened in a class last weekend.


To me, this is an overflow of walking with the Lord and growing children up in the church, the correct way. The incorrect way leads to rebellion against God and Christ by pastor's kids (PK's) who long to bust free, because their parents have to appear a certain way, all the time. What we have raised our own children to do, with fine-tuning (depending on the kid), is to think for themselves and never force them to attend this or that extra-church event. What we have since discovered is each of them are now stepping up to read Scripture aloud or sing a gospel song or discuss the error of baptismal regeneration!


I like what John Gregory Brown said here "There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself".

My wife and I are not wealthy people but what we are is rich in love and the sense of the Christian family. We would never trade that for anything in this dying world. In practice, ours is a faith which reaches out by its love, but nevertheless, is grounded in Truth. We believe telling people the Truth is  love. What we're doing here is allowing God's little daughter, whom He placed in our care, to blossom into one day, the woman I may be forced to give away down a wedding aisle! But that too, will be a legacy.

Because of the time spent walking, talking, praying with and in discipleship with her, neither my wife nor I ever felt the need to read any book about "Bringing up Daughters". For discipline, grounding her from her friends is all that's needed to alter a certain shortcoming.

During my difficulty of two surgeries, about 3 years ago, when I was laid up for a total of 8 weeks, my favorite nurse was my then 11 year old Sarah! Still, I know both her and her mom have these long drawn out discussions. When these things happen, I turn immediately around and leave the room! This is the way it will be until Sarah is in her 20's and sees things a little differently.

There really is no advise to give anyone about raising a daughter! I will leave that to all the dear women who raise 2,3 or even 4 daughters and still keep smiling and driving that mini-van around to soccer or volleyball practice! In this celebration of family this shortened week, it is an honor to celebrate the life of our only daughter....who is now bringing us more joy. Just a few days ago, I was back in the Indoor Soccer rink for the first time in over 7 years, as yet another kid took up indoor soccer! It felt great to be back with that kid-like enthusiasm and joy we get from cheering on a loved one!

In conclusion, when I lay on my dying bed and look at our kids, I would want to be as completely satisfied as I am right now, that I represented my Father in Heaven, to my little Sarah, by being her father here on earth. That will be, most certainly, the greatest legacy any person can hand off to the next generation!

In Jesus' Name, amen.

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE: DAY 7

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 7

GOD IS GOOD!


Even today, after all is said, done and read, the majority of people who live both IN and OUT of Christianity, still believe they have to be good to get into Heaven. Even worse, they believe that THEY are good enough to get there on their own!


Scripture records the incident of the "rich young ruler" in Luke 18:18-19 who went up to Jesus and called Him "good teacher". Jesus' response was ""Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good - except God alone."


The reason GOD IS GOOD is included here as a Name to be prayed is this - we cannot separate the Attribute of from the Person. We also have to look very closely as the word Jesus used for "good" here - Agathos in the Original Greek. Remember Jesus is describing His Father - God, and our Father, Whom NO man has seen and lived!


Jesus is saying here that Father is "Agathos" and it means He is GOOD, whether His Goodness is visible or not. The rain falls equally on the saved and the unsaved. The unsaved co-worker down the hall could actually be in better health and more legitimately wealthy than you, a hardworking Christian who is just getting by. God is Good to whomever He wishes and He gives Grace to all, hoping and looking for ALL to come to Him.

The invitation is open to everyone, from any part of this great planet Earth. Nothing is stopping anyone from coming to a saving knowledge of the Truth, but human pride. Regardless, God is still Good. His Name is Good. His Son is God. His Spirit is Good.


Today's scripture to meditate and pray over is Psalm 119:65-72:

You have dealt well with your servant,
O LORD, according to your word.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
(Psalm 119:65-72 ESV)


Our prayer today is to read this passage and find every mention of the word GOOD here. Then make a note of it in either your bible or prayer journal, then THANK GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS IN EACH INSTANCE!


I have highlighted them for you.  However just look back on this past week alone and if you really search your heart, you will find forty more things about which, God has been Himself - more than GOOD - to you!


Father I thank You, in the Name of Jesus for not just the Fact that You are Good and gives good things to Your people, but that YOU - the Good God of Heaven, would look down, have pity, show compassion and save someone such as I!


Lord God Almighty, You are Good and just in everything You do.
You are Good in everything You create.
You are Good in everything You said in Your Word.
You are Good in everything You have done in my life and not just mine, but those Whom You have saved and called according to Your Plan, before the Foundation of the Earth.


Day after day, moment by moment, morning after morning, Who You are - Good, demonstrates itself to me in every way imaginable! Your mercies are true every day, Abba Father. Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me! I thank You, Lord, I thank You from every fiber of my being. I bless Your Holy Name. I glorify You in all and for all and to all. I worship You in thanksgiving for You are Good.


In the Blessed and Holy Name of Jesus, the King, amen and amen!

TOMORROW'S NAME- GOD IS LOVE!

(Rockwell Painting courtesy Google Images)