May 8, 2009
May 4, 2009
Monday Devotional: Keeping It Simple
by Cranston Chester
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
This scripture is one of my favorites in the bible because it has a way of recalibrating me whenever I am distracted or overwhelmed. Whenever I read this scripture, I am also reminded of what I must be doing as a child of God.
Am I seeking God to be blessed to show others what is going on in my life, or am I open to God’s will being done in my life so that He is glorified regardless of my situation?
If I were to look at my financial responsibilities as a husband and a father, it can be overwhelming especially during this financial season. This scripture speaks to me because I am reminded that it is God who created the earth and everything therein (Nehemiah 9:6). Because He knows what we have need of as His children, and I need to be about His business.
God has placed a lot of “talents” in our hands, let us use them to the best of our ability for His glory and honor. Whenever I get away from that and become focused on using His talents for my purpose, it becomes overwhelming and distracting. The Holy Spirit always reminds me that this is a faith walk and to keep focused on God regardless of our situation. We are only seeing the current piece in the puzzle of our life, but God sees the completed puzzle, and we know that He has nothing but good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11).
Whether or not you went through a setback (financially, or emotionally), please be reminded that worrying will not resolve it. Commit it into His unchanging hands. Continue to stay focus on our Heavenly Father and what He reminds us to do on a daily basis.
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”!
Apr 27, 2009
Monday Devotional: What Is Our Primary Purpose For Raising Our Children?
by Cranston Chester
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. (Matthew 19:14 NIV)
As the father of toddlers, like our Heavenly Father who said “…plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11), I want nothing but the best for them. I’m often thinking that I would like for them to be scholars first then everything else thereafter. Even though that is wonderful, it never sat well with me because something was missing. In Proverbs 22:6, the scriptures say, “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it”. (NIV). This scripture can be interpreted as each child has special gift(s) from the Lord and we have a responsibility to nurture them as parents.
And we should!
Then I remembered growing up as a child attending a missionary school in kindergarten. Whenever I remember the songs we sang, it always brought joy to my heart. It also convicted me when I was in the “world”. My eyes were opened to this scripture (Matthew 19:14) one day by a man of God when he said that our primary purpose for raising our children is for them to have a “personal” relationship with God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything else follows. We cannot answer for them on judgment day, but we can lead them to the Light that is higher than us.
We can have daily devotional time with our children and teach them how to pray. This should be a fun time because this is the least we can the do with the gifts(s) He blessed us with in our children. Continue to encourage them that they should always pray “first” whether they are in a good or bad situation. Also, continue to be the loving and caring fathers to them as your Heavenly father is towards you. Even when disciplining them.
Children learn mainly from what we do not what we say, we must have a personal relationship with God that is “visible” to them. Even though God blessed us all with free will, whenever our children become young adults, can we look ourselves in the mirror and truly say that we did all we can to lead them to Christ?
It is never to late. Simply, ask God to not only bless you with the wisdom, but to order your footsteps to teach your children about a personal relationship with Him. Then be open to His will being done in their lives!
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. (Matthew 19:14 NIV)
As the father of toddlers, like our Heavenly Father who said “…plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11), I want nothing but the best for them. I’m often thinking that I would like for them to be scholars first then everything else thereafter. Even though that is wonderful, it never sat well with me because something was missing. In Proverbs 22:6, the scriptures say, “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it”. (NIV). This scripture can be interpreted as each child has special gift(s) from the Lord and we have a responsibility to nurture them as parents.
And we should!
Then I remembered growing up as a child attending a missionary school in kindergarten. Whenever I remember the songs we sang, it always brought joy to my heart. It also convicted me when I was in the “world”. My eyes were opened to this scripture (Matthew 19:14) one day by a man of God when he said that our primary purpose for raising our children is for them to have a “personal” relationship with God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything else follows. We cannot answer for them on judgment day, but we can lead them to the Light that is higher than us.
We can have daily devotional time with our children and teach them how to pray. This should be a fun time because this is the least we can the do with the gifts(s) He blessed us with in our children. Continue to encourage them that they should always pray “first” whether they are in a good or bad situation. Also, continue to be the loving and caring fathers to them as your Heavenly father is towards you. Even when disciplining them.
Children learn mainly from what we do not what we say, we must have a personal relationship with God that is “visible” to them. Even though God blessed us all with free will, whenever our children become young adults, can we look ourselves in the mirror and truly say that we did all we can to lead them to Christ?
It is never to late. Simply, ask God to not only bless you with the wisdom, but to order your footsteps to teach your children about a personal relationship with Him. Then be open to His will being done in their lives!
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