Peter Dubbelman
Family Life/Admin. Pastor
Hindsight definitely presents us with twenty-twenty vision. Looking over our lives most of us would readily agree that “the plans of the diligent lead to profit, just as surely as haste leads to ruin” (Pro 21.5).
Now that some of the anxious zeal of youth have passed by me; now that I have weathered some storms caused by my own haste and anxiousness; now that I have fathered children through their own anxious and zealous times. I can say that I have tasted first handed and seen also in the lives of others that “it is not good to have zeal without knowledge nor to be hasty and miss the way” (Pro 19.2).
What balanced lives we would have if we took two things to heart: living each day as if it were our last but planning each day as though our world would endure forever; resting in the understanding that the faithfulness of today will prepare us for the steps of tomorrow. May our Lord “teach us to number our days aright, that we might gain a heart of wisdom” from which we can sensibly embark upon the opportunities of each day.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
A Mother's Dedication
Alex Cosio
Hispanic Pastor
On Sunday May 11th we are celebrating mother’s day; it is a day where we want to recognize and pay tribute to our moms. This celebration began exactly 100 year ago in 1908 when Anna Jarvis requested her pastor to have a special service on Sunday to honor all of the mothers of the congregation. On may 10th, 1908 they had a special celebration and gave all mothers a carnation, which was Mrs. Jarvis’ mother’s favorite flower. Then a few years latter President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed the second Sunday in May as mother’s day.
So this day is a very special day for all mothers and I want to recognize you and thank the Lord for all of you.
It is true that one of the most demanding responsibilities for each woman is that of being a mother. Many of us have studied hard to be engineers, doctors, lawyers, teachers and so on, but there is not a major, to my knowledge, in motherhood or parenthood. Parents mostly learn by example, experience and trial and error. Where I am from there is this saying: “Learning comes by messing up.” But when it comes to our children; we need to avoid learning by messing up. As it is we’ve messed up many times.
God has given you the blessing of being a mom or a dad but along with his blessing he asked us “And fathers, don't stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4)
How can we train and bring up our children in the instruction of the Lord?
There is a family in the period of the Judges that raised a godly child who later became a judge, a prophet and a priest; Samuel. It was a time of corruption, rebellion and sin. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes”
This phrase describes exactly the time and condition not only of our time but of every period in history, every society in the world that has not the God of the Bible as their King.
The first characteristic of this family was his devotion. Elkanah and his wife Hanna went from his town to Shilo every year to worship God. In one of those trips, Hanna poured her soul before God in prayer asking for a son (1 Sam. 1:3,15) Our example is the best teaching that we can give our children, if they see our devotion to God, they will learn by example.
When Samuel (which means God heard me) was born, Elkanah and Hanna knew that this child was the Lord’s and had only a few years to train him.
Here we see the second characteristic of this family which was dedication. This they did to train Samuel for the service of the Lord. This is true also with our children; the first years are the best years to teach a child. We only have a few good years to train them in the instruction of the Lord. Psychologists say that by the age of three, 80% of the child’s character is formed.
Finally we also see in them determination. For Hanna it should have been very difficult to gave up her son to stay in Shilo with Eli; however she was determined to follow up her promise to God. She left Samuel and visited him every year; she saw how her child grew up to be a judge, a prophet and a priest in Israel.
To all of you moms, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being such devoted, dedicated and determined mothers. The Lord has blessed you richly and my prayer is that He continue to give wisdom and strength to train you children in the instruction of the Lord, and that you may see them grow to glorify Him. Happy mother’s day!
Hispanic Pastor
On Sunday May 11th we are celebrating mother’s day; it is a day where we want to recognize and pay tribute to our moms. This celebration began exactly 100 year ago in 1908 when Anna Jarvis requested her pastor to have a special service on Sunday to honor all of the mothers of the congregation. On may 10th, 1908 they had a special celebration and gave all mothers a carnation, which was Mrs. Jarvis’ mother’s favorite flower. Then a few years latter President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed the second Sunday in May as mother’s day.
So this day is a very special day for all mothers and I want to recognize you and thank the Lord for all of you.
It is true that one of the most demanding responsibilities for each woman is that of being a mother. Many of us have studied hard to be engineers, doctors, lawyers, teachers and so on, but there is not a major, to my knowledge, in motherhood or parenthood. Parents mostly learn by example, experience and trial and error. Where I am from there is this saying: “Learning comes by messing up.” But when it comes to our children; we need to avoid learning by messing up. As it is we’ve messed up many times.
God has given you the blessing of being a mom or a dad but along with his blessing he asked us “And fathers, don't stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4)
How can we train and bring up our children in the instruction of the Lord?
There is a family in the period of the Judges that raised a godly child who later became a judge, a prophet and a priest; Samuel. It was a time of corruption, rebellion and sin. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes”
This phrase describes exactly the time and condition not only of our time but of every period in history, every society in the world that has not the God of the Bible as their King.
The first characteristic of this family was his devotion. Elkanah and his wife Hanna went from his town to Shilo every year to worship God. In one of those trips, Hanna poured her soul before God in prayer asking for a son (1 Sam. 1:3,15) Our example is the best teaching that we can give our children, if they see our devotion to God, they will learn by example.
When Samuel (which means God heard me) was born, Elkanah and Hanna knew that this child was the Lord’s and had only a few years to train him.
Here we see the second characteristic of this family which was dedication. This they did to train Samuel for the service of the Lord. This is true also with our children; the first years are the best years to teach a child. We only have a few good years to train them in the instruction of the Lord. Psychologists say that by the age of three, 80% of the child’s character is formed.
Finally we also see in them determination. For Hanna it should have been very difficult to gave up her son to stay in Shilo with Eli; however she was determined to follow up her promise to God. She left Samuel and visited him every year; she saw how her child grew up to be a judge, a prophet and a priest in Israel.
To all of you moms, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being such devoted, dedicated and determined mothers. The Lord has blessed you richly and my prayer is that He continue to give wisdom and strength to train you children in the instruction of the Lord, and that you may see them grow to glorify Him. Happy mother’s day!
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