Special Prayer Request: Leona Liget

In life we have many things which happen that are unexplained and or are surprising.  But the joy of a person who has filled the hearts of their family… well these special people are a gift which is full of God’s love. Today I ask that we all pray for such a person who has been an inspiration to her family, a women who is very devoted and strong in her beliefs, and yes… full of God’s love.  Let us all pray for Leona Liget who is currently battling acute renal failure, or better known as Kidney Failure.  She is a women who loves to laugh, loves being around family and friends, a women who is inviting and is a natural mother.  She has dedicated her life to the ideals and principals of family, needless to say she is also one of those special people who I personally have had the pleasure to meet and spend a little time with and can testify to you all of how much joy she brought to my heart in the little time we shared not long ago.  To listen to her stories and the joy that is in her voice when she tells them is a sign of a life lived with God’s joy, happiness, and love.  It will be through her perseverance and the love of all those around her that our prayers here today will ego and heal her so she can continue enjoying life and also continue to give joy to all she meets.

LET US PRAY

Dear Lord, God in heaven, hear our prayers and lamination’s of your power and might.  Hear our plea and our songs which worship you, praise you, and that show you of our faith in you.  Lord God there is no other which is more powerful, more just, more righteous, and there is no one more able to receive our collective prayers that are being sent to you today.

(Pray using “I”)

I,  Lord God in Heaven,  humbly come before you and ask that you heal your daughter Leona Liget from her failing kidney and that you give her the strength to fight and the courage to continue in your holy name.  Lord,  I ask of you to be with her in this hour of need and to be the one who raises her up in your loving arms and give her a renewed leash on life.  I ask with all humility, realizing I am imperfect, knowing I am a sinner, knowing I have no authority to ask this of you, but yet I plea this cause on behalf of a women who has served you and who has raised the children you blessed her with, and who was a faithful wife, and is a grand mother who loves all her children as much as you love us.  Lord God in heaven it would be righteous to extend mercy unto Leona, and give her family time to hear her beautiful stories of her life, so that they may have time to rejoice with her as she recounts a life you have so graciously given, a life she has thus far so richly enjoyed.

Lord God in Heaven, I rejoice that you have heard me, that you have heard all who has prayed this prayer, and I rejoice in the time you gave unto me when first meeting Leona.  I rejoice in your holy name, and surrender unto you, acknowledging your divine right to work whatever miracle you wish, I simply and humbly ask that just one of those miracles will be for Leona.  I pray that you give her peace of mind, a fearless heart, and comfort her in all she is going through.  I also ask that you be there for her family and friends who love her with all their hearts as well.  With this prayer I do commit my love, joy, and devotion to your Holy Name.

Amen,

Let Us Pray

Our Father, Who is in heaven,
Holy is Your Name;
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Please contact us with your prayers for Leona Liget by click here.  Send her your support by leaving a comment on our Listening Faithfully Community Wall, look for “Prayers for Leona Liget”

Amen

Reflection 3: Family of God – Kingdom of God

3 “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ 3 Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” ~ John 3:1-3

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Metaphorically speaking;  every time I look down into one of my students eyes I see the Kingdom of God.  I see in their happiness the love of God, the promise and mercy of God. I can hear their hearts rejoicing and I can feel this joy they share every time they say hello, or reach out to slap may hand in the traditional “high five” as they walk by.  In some of them there is the Kingdom of God, as there was once this kingdom within all of us before we grew up.  So, this message is more for us adults than for our children, but all are welcome for let this stand as a message you keep long into your life even when you are old for it will serve you well to remember it.  Jesus Christ brought with Him a peace of the Kingdom when he came, he reveled it to some and purposefully hide it from others. He stood in the face of evil and commanded the demons and Satan himself all with the power and majesty  of the Kingdom of God backing him up.  Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God as if it was a real place you could touch and see with mortal eyes, and some who heard this message became confused as some of us today are confused.  I often wondered what this Kingdom would be like as a child, I imagined great golden gates, with angels standing as guards and God sitting upon a mighty thrown proclaiming the laws of His Kingdom.  But the older I got the more I started to understand that this Kingdom is not one mortals can see, hear, smell, or touch but rather is that place known only to God that our immortal souls dwelled before we became mortals, and is the same place we will return after our death providing that we have prepared ourselves for it as Jesus had instructed us too.  Found in John,  Jesus is speaking to one of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a man who knew Jesus was the Son of God and a man who knew the hearts of men and of the denial Jesus would undergo.

 It is not by accident that this Pharisee came to Jesus asking this question; “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”  and it was by design that Jesus responded in the manner that He did,  “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” For Jesus was telling Nicodemus that his faith in what he had admitted about the sovereignty of Jesus, that he has thus seen the Kingdom within Jesus himself.  I say this because there was at this time a burning question that few dared to acknowledge let alone answer.  That question was, “Who is Jesus? Where did he come from?” The majority of the Pharisees wanted to put the flesh and blood man on trial, but others saw more than flesh and blood in Jesus, and indeed how do you put a spirit on trial here on planet Earth, let alone the very spirit of God?  This created a controversy within the hearts and minds of everyone who wanted to use logic and their earthly senses to come to some sort of a conclusion before they could allow themselves to believe.  Yet it was foretold of the Jesus’s coming and still most did not believe even though he presented to them the path to believe, reassurance, and the over all picture of their final destination so that everyone would believe; sadly few did.  

3 “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)” ~ Ephesians 5: 3-9

It was this light of God Nicodemus was responding too and it was this light that he saw in Jesus.  Therefore, his words reflected his belief and his willingness to follow Jesus.  It sounds simple, but when putting this into practice it is one of the hardest things any human-being will ever do because it goes against the very laws of our earthly nature, our very sense of being, and no one wants to deny themselves for something they can not see nor touch.  Thus, when Nicodemus confronted Jesus our Lord saw the qualities of a believer and it was those qualities the real Kingdom of God would be built upon.   So the real Kingdom of Heaven is in each one of us, but we are blind to it unless we have allowed ourselves to believe in God, to believe in Jesus, and to be willing to be born again. 

4 “Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” ~John 3:4-7

The doorway to the Kingdom of God is clearly through the spiritual cleansing, the making ready of you heart, mind, and soul.  It is found within the denying of the body, the wants of the impure heart, and sins of the flesh.  Our hearts must be focused on God, our minds must be focused on Heaven, and our spirit must be ready to accept Jesus Christ as our our Lord and savior. Again the Jews conducted ritual bathing, but what Jesus proposed was that of Baptism just as John the Baptist had conducted in the Jordan many years before.  Therefore, it was no accident or something which happened by happen-stance, but rather by design.   Nicodemus’s conversion was no different than anyone of our own conversions today as the Kingdom of God is a real place, it was built for you and me, and it had a creator who intelligently designed it’s exits and entrances just as a builder builds a house with a front door and a back door, complete with windows, a kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.  God has left nothing to chance and he alone has provided for our every need all the time forever.  The only difference between our house and God’s Kingdom is that he wants us to live up to a higher ideal, to be pure, and we in our own houses fail to act as we should thinking no one else will be the wiser.  But the old adage is true; what we do in private is what our actions and words reflect in public.  In all reality Nicodemus wanted his house to be supported by Jesus, and so should everyone of us aspire to the same ideal, but first we bust ask and answer those hard questions the Jewish leadership ran away from,  “Who is Jesus? Where did he come from?”

13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” ~ Colossians 1:13-14

In reflection I think every person must ask the question,  “Who is Jesus?”, so that we will begin to search, so we will begin to read the Bible.  No one reads the Bible for entertainment, though it is very entertaining.  The people which lived in those times which are found in the Bible are just as dysfunctional as we are today, nothing has changed in that regard.  They needed salvation then as much as we do today.  Their sins are no worse than our sins today, for all sin was invented by Satan and no human could ever re-invent what the Lord of Darkness has made perfectly evil.  Therefore, it is up to each person to look for, to knock on the door, to step through the doorway, to open up one’s own heart and to try and imagine a world filled with love, because it’s real, it does exist, and it’s worth the effort.  I have always thought that if Satan could expend such energy in finding ways to condemn us, and Jesus over through that with His love then wouldn’t it be logical we reciprocate by some effort of our own.

I also think it proper that after we have begun searching that we question what we read and seek more answers never forgetting what we have found, but rather accumulating a wealth of knowledge so that we can use all the evidence found to formulate the basis of our answer and belief in God.  For I do not believe God would be insulted if we, his creations, asked and search for the truth.  In my many years of reading, listening, and following the lessons in the scripture I have always felt God  in the background urging me to continue even though at times I had become frustrated, angry, and tired.  God has always been their in my life working miracles that are not written in scripture but where just for me.  So I believe He does the same thing for everyone who searches for evidence of God in their own life.   I also believe it is through this journey of Baptism do we find God, will we then be able to answer the first and the second question and do we really become convinced of where Jesus came from, who He is, and why He saved mankind from damnation.  To me there is no other definition of family I could ever possibly hope to find that fills the void as completely as to confess that I am a believer, and a member of the family of God.  I can think of no other assurance that will allow my soul to rest within peace as to admit that God will uphold His promises and take those who identify themselves as His beloved children, (family), with Him and share with them all that the Kingdom of God has to offer forever and ever.

Amen,

* For more research on this topic, “Kingdom of God”, please click: Got Questions ?.org   And from the Berean Bible Society on this topic click here.

If you liked this Special Reflection on The Kingdom of God please leave a comment. Also please “LIKE” and “SHARE” this post with others.

Brian Keith

Your invited to stay in contact with me!

EMAIL: listeningfaithfullyblog@gmail.com

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God Bless,

Brian Keith

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Special Reflection – Prayer for Syria

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”~ Matthew 5:21-22

This weeks post is not at all the one I wanted to write and it also was nowhere near the topic I had in mind. Originally I wanted to write a special posting on the American Holiday, “Labor Day”, which was more of a response and shrewd political deal that lead to it’s being enacted, largely due to the late 1800’s “Pullman Strike”, which had such wide-ranging implications that less than a week after it ended, then-President Grover Cleveland signed Labor Day into law. As Americans we sometimes forget the political events that created many of our holidays, Labor Day being just one of them. Many of our rights also came from years of struggle and political unrest and what better way to bring the most resent struggle facing our country and many other nations around the world than to preface the peaceful ways man has ended strife without the unlawful use of violence. I also have never and will never us this blog platform which is religious in nature and in all its materials to preach politics or push a given political agenda, so with the ground rules set  I ask that first as a faith community we all pray for all the families and the victims of the Siren Gassing which took place in Syria which took more than 1,400 men, women and children on August 21, 2013.

War in Syria as well in other places in the Middle East and the world has been going on for thousands of years none stop and is likely not to stop anytime soon. Many of the reasons for man’s strife date back to the dawn of time and is firmly rooted in the Bible.  What we see today is no different than the senseless killing of tens of thousands of innocent people who died in what can only be described as mind boggling events which lead to their suffering and dying as the select few make all the decisions, make all the wealth, and allow their people to be left with virtually nothing.  These cruel dictators operate more like the common (Mafia) within a autocratic system;  rather than a democracy  of real Presidents, Prime Ministers, or Heads of State and in the annals of history they will only be remembered by the horror they unleashed on mankind rather than the ideals they may have tried to bring into our collective reality.  This drama has not changed because those in power refuse to allow it to change, they grasp onto power as if it where a drug; they will and have done anything to keep it. Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad is after all just a man and is subject to all the same grotesque temptations as every other man and women and he is no different than other brutal dictators who disguise their brutality with a deceiving title of the people and demeanor which is anything but one of a mass murder.  The very same tactics have been used before, more recently by such men as Adolf Hitler – (Died April 30, 1945 in Berlin, Germany),  Benito Mussolini – (Died April 28, 1945 in Giulino, Mezzegra, Italy),   Joseph Stolen – (Died March 5, 1953 in Kuntsevo Dach, Soviet Union), Saddam Hussein – (Hanged to Death on December 30, 2006 in Kadhimiya, Iraq),  Kim Jong-il – (Died December 17, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea), Hugo Chavez (Died March 5, 2013 in Caracas, Venezuela), and the late Prime Minister of Libya, Moammar Gadhafi; (Died October 20, 2011 in Sirte, Libya after being beaten and stabbed in the anus, causing serious injuries; the events were filmed on a cell phone. Pulled onto the front of a pick-up truck, he fell off as it drove away. His semi-naked, lifeless body was then placed into an ambulance and taken to Misrata; upon arrival, he was found to be dead.)  All these men lived by the sword, all of these men have murdered, all of these men also had intense anger in their hearts in order for them to have been able to say and do some of the horrible things they did. Some of these men brought peace to their counties for a while, but most came to power out of brutality and force on the backs of many of their citizens.  Such a man was Adolf Hitler who authorized the systematic extermination of millions of Jews, he authorized the use of horrific experiments which lead to countless Jews, civilians – men, women, and children to die in the most inhuman of ways possible. It was this that moved the allies after World War II to create the United Nations to keep such acts of violence from ever happening again.  Yet, some 68 years later here we are, chimerical weapons being used on civilians as they slept unaware of the impending dangers which would end their lives in the most inhuman of ways.  Another leader on this list named Saddam Hussein also used brute force through his arsenal of chemical weapons killing thousands of his own people on March 16, 1988, whereby he authorized the use of chemical weapons on the Kurds.  From morning til night  the Iraqis rained down volley after volley of bombs filled with a deadly mixture of mustard gas and nerve agents on Halabja.  Approximately 5,000 women, men, and children died within days of the attacks. Long-term effects included permanent blindness, cancer, and birth defects. An estimated 10,000 lived, but live daily with the disfigurement and sicknesses from the chemical weapons. Like Hitler, Hussein thumbed his nose at the world as he rained down illegal weapons on all who apposed him, war crimes in the view of the world court and yet from all we have seen and experienced there are many more dictators who are able and willing to continue where these great dinosaurs of terror have left off;  that to me is mind boggling. However, the justice for such atrocities we as mortals will never see as the true punishment is as described in Matthew 5:21-22.

A Warning for a Dictator / President

7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.” ~ Ezekiel 33:7-9

It is not that I judge you and your mind and heart, but rather appeal to your humanity and the love you feel for those you hold in your personal lives. Hold fast to the love which God Himself has granted unto you and turn from the the wicked path which you now sew. Know that your sins have been made public and the eyes of the world now gaze in your direction, do not be tempted by this attention instead read fast the words of God’s servants who have come to warn you of impending sin just as God gave to King David a prophet of the Lord, Nathan.  I as a brother in Christ beg of you to do the moral and righteous things God would have you do, ignoring the evil impulses of Satan.  Do the right things God would have you do, ignoring the depravity of Satan. Make peace with your enemies and know your time as ruler may end, ignoring the temptations of power placed before you by Satan. Trust in God alone and your many sins shall be forgiven by our Father in heaven. There is nothing to be gained by war, by senseless killing, by destroying the children under your watch. Walk away and give them peace for you shall not be able to give them back which you have taken from them.  Know your heart and mind and know your soul longs for God, even though your mind is blind to this fact, give into the good within you and allow God to mold you into the person he has wanted you to become from birth, discarding the shell of Satan forever.  Heed the warning from God and seek peace or God alone shall exact His perfect judgement.

So I urge everyone to both remember and pray for all these people who have gone before those in Syria, pray for all the millions of our brothers and sisters who suffered and died from such senseless blood shed as their place is now in the Kingdom of God. I ask that you pray for the children who have suffered and who died this past August needlessly. I know the following set of pictures though may be graphic but we need to know why we pray and why we should never take such innocents from this world.  Every human-being needs to know why the death of these innocent children is such a sin in the eyes of God, and thus we also need to pray for those in power who both allowed it and who are now brave enough to stand up and take action to prevent it from ever happening again.

Survivors of suspected gas attack in Syria describe horrors they say will haunt them forever!

By Associated Press, August 28, 2013

BEIRUT — The early-morning barrage against rebel-held areas around the Syrian capital immediately seemed different this time: The rockets made a strange, whistling noise.

Seconds after one hit near his home west of Damascus, Qusai Zakarya says, he couldn’t breathe, and he desperately punched himself in the chest to get air.

Meanwhile, in rebel-held areas east of Damascus, hundreds of suffocating, twitching victims were flooding into makeshift hospitals following a similar rocket barrage. Others were later found dead in their homes, towels still on their faces from their last moments trying to protect themselves. (Read More)

End the Syrian Civil War Now! End the Killing! The world has had enough!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOjgnOf7PJw

Amen,

If you liked this Special Reflection on SYRIA please leave a comment. Also please “LIKE” and “SHARE” this post with others.

Brian Keith

Your invited to stay in contact with me!

EMAIL: listeningfaithfullyblog@gmail.com

Facebook 

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HELP SUPPORT LISTENING FAITHFULLY BLOG BY MAKING ALL YOUR ONLINE PURCHASES THROUGH OUR WEB STORE!  CLICK HERE.  As a special token of appreciation please accept a free downloadable gift from me to you: FREE BIBLE

God Bless,

Brian Keith

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Reflection 2: Family of God – Broken Home, Broken Child

6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” ~ Proverbs 22:6

The responsibility given to all parents is to train up your children, if done they will be productive citizens, they will have a shot at happiness, they will be fruitful and happy.  But we all know this, or at least that is what is professed and yet ironically this is rarely done.  Why? I think to answer this question we must first understand what God intended for every person on earth, from every parent, and the responsibilities He places upon our children.  We also must understand that at every turn there is temptation and it affects our children just as profoundly if not more so than adults, their parents whom they look up too.  So what did God intend? 

3 “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'” ~ Jeremiah 31:3

God loved us even before He created us, hence the words “with an everlasting love.” God gave Adam life, he gave him dominion over the animals and a perfect garden to live in filled with everything Adam would ever need. God even gave unto Adam his wife Eve so that he would not be lonely and all of this God did out of everlasting love. Therefore, it’s not to big of a stretch to imagine that from God’s love He wanted man and women to be happy. If you take the total sum of all of God’s gifts to man they can all be traced back to love. God so loved mankind that He gave us free will, He gave us emotions so we could experience things far beyond that of mere animals. He gave us power and great responsibility, in that He also  gave us the power to create and to destroy.  Clearly God has not enslaved us but yet wanted every man to be free and happy. God also wanted us to be part of His divine family; enter His son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins so we could be part of that glorious family in heaven, again this comes back to love and happiness. God wanted us to experience His love, because love fills our hearts with happiness. So in truth God intended mankind to love and be happy and to be fruitful abiding in His love forever and ever. All of this is self-evident in our children who are naturally happy until we saddle them down with our sinful world. Moreover, along with all the responsibilities God gave to mankind, (many we have failed to uphold),  he endowed man to educate the children in His divine ways.

18 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” ~ Deuteronomy 11:18-19

The truth and mercy of God was to be taught to our children so they too could have hope, and become part of God’s family, and again we seem to forget this simple fact as is evident in our own laws which stifle and confuse the parental role, and tie our teachers, parents, and guardians hands behind our backs.  Mankind seems to want to force suffering upon ourselves and our children with all the horrors that the hell which we have been exposed at every twist and turn. Mankind seemingly sees ‘s fit to crush love and happiness through our actions, setting a disastrous precedent for our children who are watching every word and move we make. It is like God wants us to be happy but we are saying through our actions and word, “Leave me to my misery, “ just as Job had once said to God.

“Let me alone, for my days are but a breath. What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart on him, that You should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?” ~ Job 7:16-18

Did Job have it right, is man worthy of such love and happiness, or should God leave us all alone in our misery? Job calls out to God, that His days, (our days), are but a breath to God and so how insignificant we are in comparison. Who are we that God should test us day and night? To take this inquiry further, why should God even care after our many failures and broken promises? I know it is hard to imagine that God would love us so much and that He would go to such lengths as to save us, exalt us, and be so proud of us and then to show us mercy over and over again. There are some moments in my life where I am just astonished at God, I am so taken with His never-give-in attitude and deep down inside I know that is the kind of attitude He wants all of us to exhibit towards one-another.  In thinking long and hard about this miracle called God, I feel so inferior, so unworthy, so flawed and because He has seen fit to forgive me I am able to forgive myself. His forgiveness extends to everyone around me, (oh how He calls to me to just forgive)! I must admit it is always a work in process, but the end result as God so promised is happiness within my heart and soul. It’s crazy but I can feel God smile down upon me in those moments. For it, all, in the end, leads to overwhelming happiness.

14 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:14-15

None of the above would be possible without faith in Christ, thus happiness comes from faith through God and His everlasting love. Our salvation is hinged upon this and the ability to teach Gods message is how this message survives from age to age. With this being the will of God, why then have we, (modern man), been so resentful, so rebellious in teaching Gods divine word to our children? Why is it that we, (modern man), create roadblocks that prevent the message of God from taking root in our children? Simply put only moronic fools would be so rebellious and be so vengeful in their prosecution of such evil defiance of God, does this also sound oddly familiar? Satan is the real mastermind in getting modern man to rebel, to create the roadblocks, (laws), which prevent the teaching of God to take place as God himself had instructed for man of all ages to do with and for their children. But we also carry some blame, and will ultimately pay the final consequence for such evil doings.

15 “But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts,‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. 16 ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?'” ~ Matthew 21:15-16

Jesus the son of God calls His praise from the voices of the children, and it is through our children His kingdom shall reign.  With this the responsibility is ever present and for parents it is one we cannot ignore.  As teachers of the message of God must be the center focus within every lesson and for all adults, our burden is none the lesser as the message of God must be written within our hearts.  But, and this is a big “BUT”, we must realize that for every law we make that is supposed to protect our children we also have empowered a system that has no natural connection to them and this system grows more powerful and takes from us more rights as parents, thus creating roadblocks to this specific teaching.  There are many people who say we need to protect our children from all kinds of sinful morally inept criminals and this is true, but for every law with good intentions, there are a million unintended usages that will be exploited by crafty lawyers and kangaroo courts!  Laws at every level and in every department of our justice system which is supposed to protect our children and give them rights there are a million drawbacks that could rob you of your children!  In our liberal world we have put blinders on and seem to think by empowering our children to become more powerful than the criminal, we forget that this could be taken also to become more powerful than their own parents.  Litigation is a twisted mess for grownups let alone for our children and yet if one crafty parent gained the upper-hand and wanted to legally separate the child from the other parent it is all too easy in our Family Courts to make happen!  Consider this,  a seemingly harmless provision which allowed a move-away, could become the final tool to destroy and disenfranchise the target parent and if the child was old enough and prompted by that parent which held the legal advantage they could, (child caught in the middle),  indirectly, (without knowing it), chop of the head of the target parent in court with as little effort as a sword slicing off the head of a criminal in mid-evil times.  The end result, of course, is one parent dominates all the child’s time and dictates what they like, how they like, when they like. This goes against God’s most basic plan and divine law of a two-parent family.  Believe me, when I say, God does not want men and women taking personal problems to court no more than He wants children involved within the courts’ nasty triangle.  With God there is mercy, with His divine laws there is mercy, but with our Justice System there is no mercy for the family and in its bowels, nothing can survive that resembles the plan of God.  For within this liberal, legal, and cesspool of man’s own making the only outcome is a broken home and broken child.  This is far and above what Matthew wrote and what Jesus Himself said,have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?” I say again, there is no praise in court, there is no praise in destroying families, and there is no praise in using your children as lethal weapons sent to assassinate a parent they love!  We must rethink our laws and make every parent important and vital to the parenting process and “move-away” orders do not make that happen; they do the exact opposite!  Any parent with a specific goal of separation and is willing to expend considerable effort toward achieving it, then is no parent at all but rather nothing more than a selfish thug acting outside of God.  On the other hand, any parent with a specific goal of unity and is willing to expend considerable effort toward achieving it is, in fact, acting within God’s framework of a two-parent family scenario. As of yet, the courts have no measure in which they can discern the difference between the two vastly different types of parents and because they don’t they destroy rather than build.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” ~ Psalm 127: 1-5

Every child is a heritage given to us by God. They are not weapons of mass destruction, nor are they to be used as such! They are not tools to be used for selfish reasons, nor did God give them to you for such an activity!  No, God gave to us children to be raised with His word burned into their hearts and they are to be taught in such a manner.  God made every human being responsible for the care of all of His children thus they are to be raised by both parents, grandparents, and extended family members. Good is to be taught unto them, and evil is to be shunned by every family member as an example for the child.  Love an honor is to be instilled and there is no difference or distinction of which parent to respect more, or which elder to be heard more, rather every member is important. I have yet to find a law that states this with conviction and which a lawyer will uphold it or a judge will rule by it. The fact remains that children are not more powerful than their parents, but our legal system, enabled by the voters have made this a reality through ignorance. Can a baby feed its self? Can a child teach it’s self-things which they do not know? Can a teen exhibit enough wisdom as to not need guidance? Before you answer know this,  our American wisdom has now made the obvious answer that once was “NO”, and has made it an emphatic “YES”.  Either we have so much faith in our child’s abilities to raise themselves or we are so selfish we would rather nature do all the heavy lifting, really I can’t tell which it is.  But our psychobabble is incoherent and is notwithstanding God’s gift of children. Children need love, forgiveness, kindness, discipline, they need role-models, and above all, they need parents, not one… but two parents (i.e. father and a mother). Anything short of that the child is not whole, they become rebellious and broken adults. They have children without a clue of how to raise them, and their children become broken and disillusioned, and they too grow up and have children and the cycle continues.  Our children then embrace ungodly teachings of the world and they could not even if it was before them, could they see the light of God, could they see the truth of God, could they see the love of God.  Indeed there are many people who are in this predicament today, they come from fractured homes, they experienced evil at every turn, and by and large, they are ultimately lost.

The following is the statistic of children who come from broken homes:

Found online at; http://m.timesdispatch.com/mechlocal/opinion/letters/stats-of-effects-in-broken-homes/article_ba88da2c-6af8-11e2-9f38-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=jqm)

Did you know that more than 3 in 10 children grow up in broken homes and children from broken homes account for:

  • 70 percent of those in juvenile detention.
  • 57 percent of all prison inmates.
  • 63 percent of teen suicides.
  • 71 percent of teen pregnancies.
  • 90 percent of homeless juveniles and runaways.
  • 71 percent of high school dropouts.
  • 75 percent of all drug users.
  • 85 percent of behavioral disorders.

From the FATHERLESS GENERATION, the follow stats are found;

  • 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.
  • 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.
  • 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average.  (Center for Disease Control)
  • 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average.  (Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)
  • 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average.  (National Principals Association Report)

A nation that destroys its families will crumble, crime will rise, unhappiness reigns and our children will suffer outside of God’s Family, for there is nothing but a broken home, broken child without God.

Become a better parent by investing in yourself and in the message of God;  

Parenting by God’s Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace, by Dr. Joel Beeke – Get Your Copy today! Click Here

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Amen,

If you liked this Posting on Broken Home, Broken Child please leave a comment. Also please “LIKE” and “SHARE” this post with others.

Brian Keith

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God Bless,

Brian Keith

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Reflection 1: Family of God pt1

46 “While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'”~ Matthew 12:46-50 


Anyone who does the will of God is the brother of Jesus, as stated by Matthew. But what about those non-believers who do not do the will of God? What about all those people who live in sin and perversion refusing to repent? What about the majority of mankind? The fact is that those who believe and are faithful, obeying the rituals and traditions of the church are becoming fewer and fewer in number. The more advanced our society the more distant from God the populous has allowed their hearts to travel. In the end will it matter? If it does how many millions of people will have perished because they could not believe the words spoken by Jesus. How many people will have ignored the singular chance to be a brother or sister of our savior?

Family is everything, or in years past this was the teaching.  Blood is thicker than water or that was the saying.  Honor is won or lost depending on the actions of the family as a whole, but this too has given way to individualism.  As the pendulum swings (as the lawyers often say in reference to case law), we as people, one race under God have become more concerned with, “self”, than with, “we – the human collective”.  Through that process we have been deceived by Satan into putting more value into what makes us happy as an individual regardless the impact it has ( or will have), on others. This selfishness includes ignoring the direct impact on people in our lives such as our close relatives and everyone in between reaching as far out as to affect  our world-wide human family. This infection is worse than any plague of the Dark Ages as this selfishness has now been allowed by all who have stopped believing in one God, one people, one family, one Bible, one faith, and all of Gods miracles to now make the blasphemous argument that condones self-centeredness, greed, lust, and blind ambition instead of blind-faith in God! Each of these sins which again the populous of planet Earth has allowed into their  mind, heart, and soul has marred each heart it touches infecting it with such ugliness there is no words to describe it, thus this sin leaves behind a distinguishing feature on each person and their personal nature. All while Satan and his sinners go about justifying their actions which in retrospect has devolved into ignoring God and ignoring our rightful place as a brother or sister of Jesus Christ. In this what they have really said to God is, “We are happier with things, with our selfish wants, with anything else that allows us to not honor another’s code or since of justice, in short anything which allows us to do what we want, when we want, and how we want!  Even if that means we are eternally separated from Gods Holy Family!”

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28

Our Lord gave us three specific invitations to become part of His family. The first was to the weary, burdened, and to the tired. To these members of Christ’s family does he promise to give them rest. What exactly does Jesus mean when he talks about giving us everlasting rest. Well, Jesus promises to pull them close to Him, protect them, forgive them, and to take on their many burdens so they won’t have to bear them any longer. If you know your bible then this sound oddly familiar, for wasn’t this what Jesus willing sacrificed himself for? Didn’t he die for the entire human race so that we all would be saved, so that we all would be under His divine protection, having no worries? But to promise this he first separated our needs into specific groups with different and equal distinctions so that each person within that group would not only believe Him, but to also want to be His brother or sister.

17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ~ Mark 1:17

First Jesus promised to take your burdens, then he promised to mold you into His disciple. Again, the first qualification to be a brother or sister in Christ is to submit to Jesus, thus giving up your will, wants, and desires, and doing the will of God. By becoming His brother or sister you also become His blessed disciple, again doing the will of God.

Secondly, just as Jesus does not take away what he has given or promised, neither should you as His disciple take back what you have promised or given. For this distorts and destroys hope and to be the destroyer of hope is not the will of God. Remember it was said, 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33

4 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” ~ John 15:4

Jesus’s third promise was to remain within you. Therefore, in every aspect of your life if you abide in Him, He promises to remain in you. No one can do the exact will of God absent of God in their own life. No one can be called a disciple of Christ and at the same time be doing evil deeds. Likewise, a baby can not survive without it parents nurturing hand, therefore we cannot succeed without God for everything in this world is His alone to give or take. For His thoughts are not our thoughts, our ways are not His ways.

Modern Day Threats to God’s Family

Divorce is the number one weapon Satan has used in our lives as he seeks to divide and concur! However, hidden from view most people have no clue the evil of divorce and that in reality there are two kinds of divorce. The first kind is the legal separation from your spouse, which in turn if you have children opens your life and family to the evils of man’s law known as the Family Court which destroys your family and your life and which is illegal in its very practice, (more on this later). The second type of divorce is no less destructive, as it is the dissolution of your faith and standing with God for man’s law cares not for morality, nor the teaching of the Bible, because if it did then it could not proclaim the perverted message that it does, “To protect the best interest of your children.” Namely this guiding principle is never upheld when one parent seeks to destroy the other and the courts allow the behavior of that selfish spouse. Alarmingly, studies prove beyond any doubt that women all over the world are getting away with disenfranchising their husbands robbing their children of a father who loves them.

“Unfortunately, the desire for ongoing and liberal visitation between child and nonresidential parent has frequently not kept pace with actual practices. The Children’s Rights Council (1994) estimates that six million children in the United States have their visitation interfered with by the custodial parents. Two surveys support the range of this problem. Arditti (1992) reports that approximately 50% of divorced fathers relate that their ex-wife has interfered with visitation with their offspring. Similarly, approximately 40% of custodial mothers admit denying their ex-husband visitation in order to punish him (Kressel, 1985). In some cases, visitation interference has been associated with malicious unlawful acts against the father of such children (Turkat, in press). On rare occasions, a parent may actually kidnap the child.” ~ Ira Daniel Turkat, PH.D., CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW, VOL. 14. NO. 8, pp. 737-742, 1994

This leads to millions of children through divorce looses one of their parents namely the father. Then there is those in our society who ask this moronic question, “Where did all the fathers go?” Satan’s great plan to divide and concur through divorce is where all our the good fathers have gone. A more important question then lurks in the background, “How can you believe in God if he allowed your ex-wife to destroy your life and legally steel your kids from you?” This question destroys faith, destroys hope, destroys lives again namely that of our fathers who wanted so much to be a father to their children and who is being prevented from doing so by the court.  97% of these men have been turned into and measured by how much money they can provide their ex-spouse, thus reducing their role as nothing more than a living breathing wallet. They are then condemned when they cannot provide as society calls them “dead beat dads”, or absent tee fathers, ironically it was the court which placed them in such a position in the first place.  This is called alienation for a reason and it should also be called a crime and child abuse and which is being allowed and perpetrated by the courts!  It used to be each party had to prove the other unfit, but in today’s Family Court System a claim becomes proof with or without hard evidence! This practice has both disenfranchised and denied more parents the right of Due-Process as most Judges shirk their responsibility and do not read everything nor consider everything. When Family Code is sited in court declarations and the mother denies responsibility and alleges other more hurtful allegations against the father without documented proof then most  Judges automatically side with the mother calling her the “primary caregiver”. Even though it has been proven she had openly kept the child from the father and prevented equal access on court appointed time with their children or child. These are just a few experiences I have had and others like me have had in court as we fight for equal time with our children in the State of California, but in no way shape or form is this illegal activity just happening in California, but worldwide!

3 “Children are a gift from the Lord.  They are a reward from him.  4 Children who are born to people when they are young are like arrows in the hands of a soldier.  5 Blessed are those who have many children.  They won’t be put to shame when they go up against their enemies in court.” ~ Psalm 127:3-5

God gave mankind his offspring, not the courts!  God gave authority and the power to raise each child to (his/her)parents, not the court! God gave the sacred duty of bringing children up in the ammunition of the Lord to the parents, not to the courts! Our very Constitution of the United States of America gives each person the right to practice religion, thus our very Constitution extends to protect each parents sacred rights endowed to all men to parent by God through Psalm 127: 3-5.

“NO PARENT SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR OF NEVER GETTING TO SEE THEIR (CHILD/CHILDREN) EVER AGAIN! AS THIS IS EMOTIONAL TERRORISM PERPETRATED BY THE COURTS!” ~ Brian Keith, 2013

AMENDMENT I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. ~ United States Constitution – First Amendment.

This does not give the Government (State or Federal) the right to tear our families apart and disfranchising men from the role of father which we are so endowed by God to raise on a daily basis! No Government has the right to take a child or give more custody to one parent over the other because no Government has more authority than God!  God gave to me and my ex-wife our daughter equally, God gave to my friends who are fighting for custody and the rights to see their children to them and their ex-spouses equally. In short there should never be a fight over custody as that is something God given and no man has the right to deny or alter or change! The Family Courts of the world are operating illegally every time they give a mother the right to move away and take from the father all rights of making decisions on schooling, or anything else which pertains to the raising of their children/child.  No parent has the right to destroy the family because they are so selfish as to seek revenge on their former spouse, as this does not show love for or hold within it the best interest of the children involved but quit the opposite. Every-time a child is kept form seeing an alienated parent be it from the ex-spouse, court, police, or anyone else they have broken Gods sacred commandments.

“The child is not the mere creature of the State. Those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” ~ 1925 Supreme Court ruling: Pierce v. Society of Sister

I call upon all of you to stand and fight against this travesty which affects billions of parents world wide and even more children. I ask you to petition the Church, the Courts, your local and Federal Governments writing to them letters of outrage; letting them know how wrong these trespasses are and how hurtful they have become! I call upon every child who has been victimized in this way to stand and speak out about how much guilt you have carried by being forced to chose between two parents you love, telling the world how devastating this illegal choice again forced upon you by the courts! Speak out about the anger and frustration and the devastation it brought to your life and how confused you became during those years which you most likely have buried deep inside! I ask everyone to speak out because it is child abuse being perpetrated by the courts and it fly’s in the face of both State and Federal Family Code, the Constitution, and that of God and is directly apposed by His Devin will and purpose of parenthood!

“The hallmark of [the parental] relationship is the readily observable fact that this special adult is not interchangeable with others.” ~ Dr. Jack Shonkoff Board-certified pediatrician Harvard Graduate School of Education

I want to take out this moment to call attention to a friend of mine who lives in San Diego California and who’s wife of many years; a women who has denied him equal access to their beautiful daughter for years. Denied him access to a child who loves both of her parents dearly. Here is a mother who’s personal life that is more important to her than some of her other motherly duties, and whom is not  a citizen of these United States of America and who just won the right to move away to her native home of Italy. Here is a child who is a citizen of the United States, who’s father is a citizen of the United States and a father who will not be able to visit his daughter after the move because of finances. A man who has dedicated his life to educating others and is a Professor in Higher Education, a man who has been made to look like he does not love his only child because he took a few jobs over the years out of the State of California so he could provide for his family. Here is a man who has been brought to the edge of financial ruin because of the courts and this illegal system! Again, no court has the power to create such chaos in a parents life, nor do they have the right to disenfranchise or pick between the two parents or decide which parental relationship to destroy and which parental relationship to honor! It is a perversion before God and it needs to stop! I ask everyone to pray for my good friend Joseph.

“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.” ~ C. Everett Koop Former US Surgeon General

I ask all of you to also pray for all parents in their struggles with the worlds illegal courts who seek to divide and concur just like the great Satan they where devised from. Each week I will ask you to pray for a parent I know who has been divested by these rulings which have no place in our world and are illegal as again the court has no power over the laws of God. Each parent I will ask you to pray for during this Series on Family who has deeply touched my heart as I have heard them, written to them, and been moved by them. I will ask that you pray for both men and women and every single child caught by this devastating and selfish weapon unleashed by one of their parents as they seek revenge as mentioned above.

A Prayer Written by a Child of Divorce:

In Jesus’s name we pray,

My Dear Father in Heaven,
Please hold me tight and see the pain in my heart,
Please Lord – please be for me the Father that I need,
To make me feel happy and secure,
As my own father is so far away from me,
And I see him so few times,
I feel so sad and so alone without him,
He is never able to make dinner for me, celebrate holidays, or even read me a story to put me to bed,
Only You dear Lord can take care of me and care for all my needs,
Never again will I have to go to bed or wake up alone,
For You My God shall be with me.

“This prayer written by a child of divorced parents, should perhaps be mandatory reading for any couple with children, who is contemplating divorce. Maybe parents who have “thrown in the towel”, giving up all hope on their marriage – after reading this prayer and feeling the child’s pain – will decide to “dig deeper” into their emotional resources to find a solution for the marriage to work, so that their children should be spared such pain.” ~ The SilentOne, 2011.

“Overwhelmingly, the teenagers who were polled named spending time with family as their top answer. For nearly three quarters – 73 percent – their relationship with their parents is what makes them most happy.” ~ parentalrights.org, The Vital Child-Parent Relationship

Amen

If you liked this Reflection on FAMILY please leave a comment. Also please “LIKE” and “SHARE” this post with others.

Brian Keith

Your invited to stay in contact with me!

EMAIL: listeningfaithfullyblog@gmail.com

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God Bless,

Brian Keith

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Special Post: Father's Day

Fathers As Teachers

7 “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” ~ Hebrews 12:7

All my life I have watched my father raise his children up knowing the Lord. I have had the pleasure to see him at his best and at his complete worst; I have seen him in his victories and in his defeats; I have loved him always in all that he has faced; because I know he did all those things and made all those sacrifices not for himself, but for that of his family. I have watched how gentle he has become with his grandchildren, and now his great grand child. I have seen him be filled with love, heard him speak out against injustice, and I have seen him defend his family to the bitter end. My father taught me many different things about life, about myself, and lessons about himself, and that of his father whom was not so much around when he was a child. My father vowed to make a difference, to be a teacher even though he had no clue that he was in fact teaching us how to be honorable, respectful, honest, and loving. My dad is funny in that he has gone deaf and his responses are not quite what they would have been if he had heard what was being said to him. My father has also gone bald and I used to make fun of his lack of hair and even played with the little bit which adorned the northern most portion of his head. My father despite these two short comings endured, and was able to poke fun at himself and laugh when I made my childish jokes. As a child I loved spending time with him especially on those Saturday mornings when he would wake me up at 6am to have coffee and watch the sun come up over the trees in our backyard, it is to those memories I will always cherish. I loved going fishing with him, loved reading him my stories, loved watching “All Star Wrestling”, and I dearly loved hearing his stories of his childhood, his dreams, his mistakes, and listening faithfully to his hopes and heart breaks. My father is not the easiest man to get to know, he is not the gentlest man, nor is he the most patient man, but I love him and I am honored to be his son. My father is my favorite teacher, my favorite role-model, my favorite supporter because  he taught me how to be a real person and a real man. I know my father has endured hardship, he has made many sacrifices, for he has instilled those lessons deep within me. It is because of this teaching I have endured, I have prospered in adversity, and like him I have been strong in the face of my many hardships and heartbreaks. I know my father would not call himself a teacher, rather he looks at himself as an ordinary man who did the best he could for his family, but he is much more than that to me. It was my father who introduced me to God, who answered many of my questions about the role of God, and it was my father who taught me not to fear such things as death because God is even there with us. My father introduced me to the meaning of family for he gave me a set of grand-parents who I adored immensely. My father introduced me to life, how the  real world works, he did his best to guide me and show me how to be responsible when all I wanted to do was shrink and hide. My father pulled me up by the britches and made me stand-up and taught me that honor is everything a man is and is the only thing a man has. I would not know the things I do about car engines had it not been for my father calling me down to the garage and showing me different car parts. To this point I must say I was not at the time interested at all about engines not like my father was and I missed out on those moments because of my stubbornness and lack of tolerance for those specific lessons he tried in vain to teach. Likewise, my father never stop trying and in those moments when I was an adult I found myself so grateful for having him reteach what I should have learned when I was younger. One of the fondest memories I have is our many trips to the cabin located within the Hills of the Lake of the Ozarks, a cabin his parents build and turned into our favorite getaway. I loved hearing his points of view, and arguing about most of them. But the one moment I am to this day in awe of is how my father without warning showed me his feeling, his hurts, and he felt comfortable enough to open up to me in a way I have never seen before or since. In that experience I learned more about my father which was and had been a complete mystery for most of my life. He alone taught me that I will never stop learning, growing, evolving, and feeling. As a disciplinarian my father was the worst, for in his moments of anger at use kids I feared him, but I never stopped loving him. I always knew how far he would go and I found myself always test those boundaries and again most of the time learning things about him that I could not have ever guest otherwise. I find myself now taking up his mantle of teaching, though I have become a professional and hold two Masters in Education and have surpassed my father in this area, I still feel he is smarter and wiser than I will ever be even with my degrees. I see traits in my character that is oddly simular to his and I find myself saying things to all my children in my classroom that he had said to me when I was a child. In raising my daughter I tried my hardest because my father had tried his hardest first. I told my daughter many stories that I know she loved to hear just as my father had told  first told me. Like my father I introduced God to my daughter and tried to teach her all the many lessons my father had taught me. I hold my father up as the example of what a father should be and though I am now painfully estranged from my only child, (not by my own fault), I will never stopped trying to teach her the lessons she was not willing to take out the time with me to learn, just as my father has never stopped trying to teach me and still teaches me to this very day. In many ways I too look at myself as just a common ordinary person, (father), who is doing the best that he can, just like my dad.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD! I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

My Dad / My Daughter / My Family

___________________________________________

History of Fathers Day

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6 “He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” ~ Malachi 4:6

Fathers day was started by a daughter who loved her father so much she changed how America looked and treated fathers. It was the religious organizations who helped her make this a nation wide celebration, and thus it is very much rooted in the American fabric and in our religious history. With persistence fathers are now celebrated and remembered for their contribution within the American family unit. It is not to be under scored the role fathers play in the raising of their children and when all the facts are summed up, Fathers are every bit as important as Mothers.  Just as the bible proclaims it takes two to raise a child, it takes both a Mother and a Father.

I want to take this moment to wish every father around the world a wonderful Fathers Day, and I hope this day is remembered and celebrated by all families until the end of all time. For we are also celebrating our eternal father in heaven when we we celebrate our own fathers and their contribution.

FATHERS DAY CHALLENGE: I want to hear about your fathers, describe him in a couple of sentences and I will post what you have written below this challenge under the heading Your Fathers. I can’t wait to hear from all of you!

YOUR FATHERS

____________________________

Greg Brede “I would like to add many Fathers that I know that have been Parent Child Relationship Challenged by the Family Court and affiliated Officer’s of the Courts: Nicholas Haas, David Johnson, David Vandenberg, Mike Prieto, Bill Lynch, Marty Flynn, Joseph Kenick III, DrJoe Rabinovitz, Gus Breton, Tom McCarthy, Ed Bryans, Andy Scutura and many other great Dads”

Keith Marsolek “4 men have always inspired me in my life.God, Jesus, my Dad and Allan Gantt. Thank you all for who I am today.”

Diane Firestone “I thank God who has given me a father who speaks quietly, teaches me integrity, loves me unconditionally, teaches how to barter, and has rock solid, old fashioned, values. Thank You dad!”

Angie Ochoa: “Happy Fathers Day Mr. Stark”

Joseph Di Lella “My Papa was my BEST friend, my mentor, teacher and guide through the toughest times of my life. He passed only 8 years ago last Thursday, but it seems like yesterday. He is always remembered and loved . . .”

____________________________

Amen,

If you liked this Special Post please leave a comment. Also please “LIKE” and “SHARE” this post with others. Please become part of our Ascension and Listening Faithfully Families by showing your support today. 

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Brian Keith

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God Bless,

Brian Keith

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Special Post: Congradulations My Ascension Students!

24 “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” ~ Psalm 31:24

My heart was taken up in joy this week as two awesome events took place, for two sets of my children; one set I have taught for four years and the other set not yet but I soon, all graduated. One set became Alumni of our school headed to High School and the other passed the threshold from Pre-K to Kinder. Each year that goes by I have wanted to capture the moment in the best way possible so this year I had an Alumni come back and help finish off the Digital Year Book and create two special movies… I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do. This is a small window into the world I live and enjoy as an educator.

logo

 To the Class of 2013

I will miss all of you very much and I hope you take with you good courage in the Lord, for He is always with you.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Vo0sy62YJfM]

 

To the Class of 2022

Though I am not your teacher yet, to many of your brothers and sisters I have been. I want to impart with you the courage to always do good, to always do your best, and to always look to God for salvation. This unfinished movie is symbolic of your unfinished journey through your life and life-long education. 

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13 “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” ~ Isaiah 54:13

I end this message with a challenge for all people to raise their children knowing the Lord, for all parents to work their differences out, and for all children to love both of your parents equally and to forgive them their many mistakes as your children shall also do because you found forgiveness first.

Amen

If you liked this Special Post please leave a comment. Also please “LIKE” and “SHARE” this post with others. Please become part of our Ascension and Listening Faithfully Families by showing your support today. SUPPORT ASCENSION!  /  SUPPORT LISTENING FAITHFULLY!

Brian Keith

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EMAIL: listeningfaithfullyblog@gmail.com

Facebook 

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HELP SUPPORT LISTENING FAITHFULLY BLOG BY MAKING ALL YOUR ONLINE PURCHASES THROUGH OUR WEB STORE!  CLICK HERE.  As a special token of appreciation please accept a free downloadable gift from me to you: FREE BIBLE

While  at our Online store powered by AMAZN.com please consider being one the 20 special supporters of Listening Faithfully and purchase a Kindle Fire today. One Kindle Fire supports one child for this Summers Technology Team Course at Ascension Catholic School.  Become a supporter of inner city literacy today!

God Bless,

Brian Keith

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Reflection 12: What You Can Expect From Life: According to MARRIAGE

18 “May your fountain be blessed,  and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.” ~ Proverbs 5:8-19

What Marriage is Not

18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” ~ Romans 1:18-32

In our modern society today a raging debate of what lawful marriage is verse what spiritual marriage is and in this debate there is lost to man the perspective and vision of God and what he intended it to be. I say this because I feel it is important to not ignore the oldest book in human history which discribes in detail our creators intent and to simply ignore God’s intension is simply the act of fools. With that said, I do not support nor condone same sex marriage, but I will concede that man’s law not only has condoned it in most places, but also openly accepts it as an alternative to traditional, (natural), marriage. Though I  stand apposed to man’s law, I am not and will not single any person out or be superficial with their beliefs or make fun of those who chose this alternative life style. Thus, the first point I want to make on this topic of Marriage can be summed up by calling it first and foremost a relationship, one that should last for a lifetime. I can love a person but never be married to them, I can share the important parts of my friends life’s again without being married to them, I can be loyal and trustworthy without being married, and I can inherit possessions from those who have past on without being married to them. For marriage is a biblical practice between one man and one women, for that is what God so intended for mankind. All the laws of man that support same sex marriage is an abomination in the eyes of God, you only have to look it up in Genesis 2:24, Leviticus 18:22Romans 1:20-271 Corinthians 6:3-101 Corinthians 7:2–16, and Ephesians 5:23–33, to mention just a few, and to ignore these holy teachings is not forward thinking, or out of the box, or advancements on God’s intent, rather contrary to popular belief it is very much mocking, disrespectful, is openly rebellious, and flat out heresy  to God!  The acts of the foolish will be punished accordingly by God, and it is not for me or anyone else to judge but rather state the facts as they have been presented and known since the dawn of mankind on planet Earth. 

What Marriage Is

3 “Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.” ~ 1 Corinthians 7:3

Therefore, “MARRIAGE”, as God intended it to be is observed between one man and one women and they together make one flesh. But, how do we make this relationship last? It starts by knowing exactly what “Holy Matrimony” is verse what it is not. As stated above it is not a union between couples of the same sex. Real marriage that is blessed by God begins with respect for the laws of God because we are first married to God, we are to submit to God, live our life for God. Therefore, if you honor and obey the teachings of the Holy Bible then you will begin to lay a foundation that will last a life time in not just your future marriage, but for all other relationships that which you shall have in your life and all those relationships will if laid appropriately bring you peace and love all the days of your life. Marriage is a sacred covenant between you and God, it is a promise to always be open, always be respectful, always be loving and kind, always be forgiving and gentle, and always be faithfully and loyal to God first. Most marriages do not last because most people are fake in their practice of prayer, they are lazy in their devotion to God, and are selfish within their own heart and in their desires. I say this to shame you and to make you mad, I say this to shake you out of your complacency and to bring you to God so you may find love, peace, and be able to build from the rubble and lay a foundation that will last a lifetime. Thus, to have a marriage with another human-being then you must first exhibit a life filled with God and be faithful to His word alone. 

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The Earthy Distractions

15 “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.” ~ Proverbs 5:15

Same sex marriage is nothing more than a destructive distraction to the populous, so is sex before marriage, adultery, rape, pornography, prostitution, sex with animal, and pedophilia, again to just name a few. All these immoral acts have been called in the bible an abomination to God. Those who practice these immoral acts have in their minds an intolerance to the will of God, in fact they are in rebellion against God. However, I do refrain from advocating that they are evil because we are all mortal and we all are sinners, I point this out in remembrance of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for mankind and the possibility to be redeemed. For never before in the history of mankind has there been more people living on earth. Never before in the history of mankind has there ever been more sexual distractions. God has so perfected the shape and build of the human body and this has in and of itself presented mortals with a paradox. For all these facts bring forward the idea of multiple choices, and has increased to possibility of having more than just one  sexual partner. Because of this distraction there is more divorces than ever before, there is more families being torn asunder  and there is more division in our thinking and beliefs which are being reflected in our laws. I do believe that this strife is the root  cause to a world-wide panic to appease the most powerful groups even if their ideas and dogma are contrary to our own, and in some arenas this has proven to be something that forces Presidents and Governments to turn the other cheek just to retain their own power base and popularity. These earthly distractions warp our children’s minds in such a way as to allow them to believe that same sex marriage, adultery,  sex before marriage, pornography, and prostitution is the natural normal conditions of life and should be accepted when in fact they are not. Think of this indoctrination as just one tool Satan has at his disposal to destroy mankind, just one avenue he has to trick us into believing something which is against God just as he had done to Eve in the Garden of Eden. All of these facts point to one simple truth about our modern society, and that truth is simply revealed in the number of seats that go empty every Sunday in church. We are slowly becoming numb to perversion and thus simply accept it, and what was once considered controversial is now viewed as the new normal. How far have we sunk into the quagmire of Satan’s sin and perversions and allow our children to continue even further down into this pit of sin. The few who escape I tell you are those who first believed and honored God and all His teachings and who first build a solid foundation which guards against these evils which attack us spiritually and which convict us heart, mind, and soul. 

The Marriage Foundation

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. ~ Ephesians 5:27-33

The need to pour the foundation thick I hope I have imparted to you. The need to have an active spiritual life with God I hope I have illustrated and made perfectly clear, for there is no room for mistakes and there is no room for perversions in the marriage between you and God. Likewise, there is no room for  selfish desires in a marriage between you and your husband or wife. Simply put what you can expect form life in accordance to marriage if done right is a life filled with God, a life filled with joy and happiness which brings peace of mind, heart, and soul, and allows your time here on earth to be truly blest by God. Marriage can be the most rewarding, most satisfying, most intoxicating experience you will ever have with your partner, (of the opposite sex),  whom God has allowed to come into your life. Thus, from God where then does it go naturally and how do we make it last? To answer this question I will continue with the analogy of the foundation and the construction of a blest house. From the foundation which is God, the preparation for marriage between two people, male and female, then must be that of building the framework which outlines the house and is what makes it stronger and will make it last. This framework is in simple terms the ability for both people to show and believe in mutual respect for each other. Respect in all areas of life from the most exciting to most boring, everyday and every night. Respect is a process which dictates both people get to know each other, which often times places an expectation of exclusivity. It is in this process where most of our children make the first of many mistakes in that of wanting sex before marriage. This simple desire can burn not just the framework but also the foundation, it can destroy rather than build, and it can lead to more strife than what it is worth. Respect begins at respecting the law of God first and waiting until marriage to have sex. In this the message that will be sent is a moral one, it is a life changing one, it is speaking to the heart and soul of the other person which should allow them if they are also following God to respect you even more and visa-versa. Respect, which equals the, (framework of the marriage), then begins to build an intoxicating love which equals the, (sheetrock and plywood for both the interior and exterior),  of the house which is blest by God. There is nothing stronger than this intoxicating love, for it allows to be present in both people that firm reassurance of a relationship where anything can be shared and accepted and or forgiven. It allows their two hearts to beat as one and lites a fire which burns hot and will keep them warm in the coldest of  times they shall face. Intoxicating love is what every single man and women has described when asked what made their marriages last fifty, sixty, seventy years and beyond and it is what transcends these mortal bonds into that of the spiritual world of God. To love in this manner is second only to the love that which God freely gives to every human-being ever born form the beginning to the end of all time.  From mutual respect to intoxicating love a bond is build that is not easily broken, and if left intact will undoubtedly build what can only be described as the fruits of your marriage. This fruit is equal to the, (paint on the walls, the carpet and hardwood on the floors, and lighting and electricity in every room, and even the appliances that are found in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry rooms), for this is the heart and soul of your marriage, this is the symbol of your devotion to one another. For to truly be in-love in this manner there is promised a house blest by God, and in this analogy there is a complete oneness that is unmistakable, beautiful, attractive, and it is this which God intended for every human-being who avoids the distractions.

Attributes of a Strong Marriage

23 “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” ~ Genesis 2:23

The first attribute of a strong marriage is friendship, though you may have other friends your husband or wife should be your best friend for life and there should never be any cause to keep secrets from one to another. People who are in love and who have lasted for decades have done so because first they were friends. The glue which bonded them most assuredly sprang from friendship, which allowed common respect to flourish. The foundation as stated before is that of God, but it is possible for people from completely different religious backgrounds to become friends and to eventually marry, but I say to you everyone begins with friendship  and that friendship at some point turns into respect for each other. Another attribute of a strong marriage is  found in a mutual want to please the other and in this couples must also learn to sacrifice and compromise. This attribute is linked closely with tolerance of one another’s weakness and or strengths, it is exhibited by the ability for the other person to overlook and in some instances over come imperfections that in any other instance would have destroyed the relationship. Just because you love someone does not make them want the same things or desire the exact goals. Therefore, marriages that last are filled with sacrifices and compromises in every area of your life. One persons strengths should illuminate the other, and one persons weakness should allow the other person to shine for the both of them. All of these attributes lead to an intoxicating love, one that can never be extinguished, for the flame burns in all conditions whether it be clear or overcast and rainy, boiling or freezing, in all conditions and climates of life there is this unending love. 

Disclaimer: Though there many be successful marriages that at the surface do not appear to have these attributes nor is there any indication of a real bond, marriage is based on these attributes and cannot survive without them. In most marriages there is anger, arguing, misunderstandings, words spoken that later are regretted from ever having been said, but if the foundation is of God, and both people are dedicated to God and the success of the marriage first then there will be nothing that cannot be overcome. I say this only in observation for my marriage was unsuccessful, but what drives me to believe so much in the institution of marriage is simple, for last Sunday I went to a San Diego Baseball Game and in the seats below me sat two people who had been married for seventy years, I was later told by those people who have known them by virtue of seeing them over the past two years at the San Diego Ball Park that in fact the wife makes their meals and packs their lunch and dinner, the man drives and helps hers up and down the stairs and during the game the hold hands as if they where teenagers. It brought me back to a time when this was the norm instead of the exception and to them I tip my hat, I solute them with all my heart and soul as they have shown me the true meaning of beautiful, awesome, captivating marriage that spans the ages.

Marriage Challenge: Knowing that this idea marriage is possible I challenge every married couple to sit down and hear their feelings, work on all their problems and dare to be like that couple I saw at the San Diego Padres Ball Park. You start by becoming friends… finding God together… by not being afraid or judgmental and by asking your partner for absolute trust and to honor your feelings… and by returning these gifts of the heart back to your spouse in abundance. I challenge you to fulfill this one commandment: 

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ John 13:34-35

Amen

If you liked this Reflection on MARRIAGE please leave a comment. Also please “LIKE” and “SHARE” this post with others.

Brian Keith

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God Bless,

Brian Keith

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Reflection 11: What You Can Expect From Life: According to LAZINESS

12 “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made them both. 13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14 ‘It is good for nothing,’ cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” ~ Proverbs 20: 12-15

The Level of Laziness

It is truly amazing how many people disassociate themselves from the word, “LAZINESS”, and instead use excuses to mask their behavior with the words, “Relaxation or Freedom”. People in the Western World cling to their freedoms and in many instances forget that those freedoms are not free but binding and carry a heavy cost. We have the idea that relaxation is freedom, freedom from responsibility, freedom from work, freedom from life and reality. There is the real threat that though we all need to unwind, it becomes a habit and laziness takes root and takes over your life. Many people fall asleep in there life both personal and spiritual. The truth is if you are lazy in your personal relationships; be it with your parents, friends, siblings, relatives, spouse, children, or in your professional life; with your co-workers, boss, or your career opportunities, then your also lazy in your spiritual life with God. Ask yourself this one question and depending upon the answer you will see clearly your level of laziness, “Would you die for Jesus?”  I know… I know… many will use the argument that this is not necessary. There is no reason to lay your life down for God. But is that the truth or is it the deception? Think about it from the view point of God; He made humanity, he made the Earth, the stars, the universes, He alone made everything we know and do not yet know of, and seeing that God was this proactive to send His only son to die for you and me, then shouldn’t we return the favor and live for Him? Shouldn’t we then defend His word, His promises, and teach others to live as God would have us all live? Is it not to much to expect that we become just as proactive in spreading the, “Good News”, as He was in our salvation? See many people refuse to do the right thing out of laziness and use the excuse that it wasn’t their fault, they refuse to do simple tasks and use the excuse that it wasn’t their turn, and when the mayhem and destruction rains down they again refuse to see the signs plainly written upon the wall and go into full fledged denial and say, it wasn’t their idea to do this or that. Wouldn’t it be easier to say, “Damn, I was lazy in that instance.”?  But instead of accepting the responsibility for their part, they refuse and in that refusal is found the roots of laziness. It is easier to deny the obvious truth, because then you don’t have to take action which in many instances could become labor intensive; but yet would be the right thing to do. It is easier to fall asleep in your life and close the door and ignore the hurt and bad feelings you personally have caused rather than to keep the door open to those you love and say instead, “I am sorry for my actions. How can we fix this?” It is easier to wallow in our poverty of spirit than it is to stand up and help those around us and climb out of the denial which binds our hands and feet and profess the words of God. By opening your eyes you are also opening your heart and through this process you begin the awesome journey of destroying laziness in your life and living for God. I say to you do not be deceived and cling to your freedoms as if were gold or jewels, because the question God will ask you upon the “Day of Judgement” is extraordinarily simple, “Did you live for me or did you instead live for yourself?” 

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Laziness Equals Cutting Corners

19 “The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.” ~ Proverbs 15:19

I see this with my students when it comes to studying for their test; often they will take the notes but forget the notebook. I see this with my adult friends as they will talk a good game but then take no actions they had promised. It seems in both instances that the taking action is harder than the task, but the task is made out to be impossible or to stressful and so the first response is to quit before they start, or to cheat and cut corners. “Yes” the task may have been accomplished but it was not done to its fullest extent so it’s foundations therefore were laid upon sand rather than bedrock. This obvious laziness is very much like a hedge of thorns because it pricks the skin of all those who come in contact, and it often times is the cause to so much strife. It is more rewarding to to have studied then take the test confidently knowing you will pass with flying colors then it is to fret and feel defeated before and after the test. Remember that God is constantly testing us, testing our character, testing our loyalty, testing our love, and testing our fortitude by allowing certain problems to take place within our lives. God is molding us into a more perfect version of ourselves, but this process will never take root if you fall into denial and practice the art of refusal, because eventually you will have been given more than your fair share of chances and the door will close and you will pay for your sins and your many refusals. Doing things half-way is like not doing them at all. Part of your mind and spirit is in refusal to the full way, the right way, and rebellion takes over in your heart. Remember also that,  “Laziness”,  is another word for, “Slothfulness”, and slothfulness is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Laziness detracts from your efforts, keeps you prisoner, and keeps you complacent. But on the other hand those who are not lazy, who take action, who face their fears, and those who make bold moves in the name of God are counted among the wisest of the wise. Their actions are plain, easy to see, noticeable because of their fortitude, and they are seen for their strength of character, and are unshakable in their faith. These wise people are Gods righteous disciples and they hold the word of God in their hearts, minds, and soul.  God’s righteous people do not worry about the task at hand, even though it may seem impossible, they know it is not. It is an inner knowledge, (comfort), given them by their faith in God. In truth many stray from God and become lazy in their spiritual life because they claim it’s borring to go to church weekly, or they develop a disconnect with the other worshipers in that church, and they use these excuses to stop going completely. When this happens the faith they once held within God is broken and laziness takes root. But the wise and righteous fill this time with God, whether in church or on the street or in their houses alone, every moment is filled with God. Again the task of being active should envelop  every aspect of your life, it should melt seamlessly in and become singular actions that happen without thought or concentration on your part. Saint Peter did not think about his death, rather than His example of living for Jesus. The last thoughts of James, Son of Alphaeus was not of the stones being thrown that would end his life, but the fire for Christ he was lighting with his death. In every instance the disciples who died for their faith by the brutal actions of the non-believers they were preaching too was not of themselves or else they would never have gone so willingly to their deaths. In all the instances of those disciples who fell asleep in peaceful places, died after giving their entire life over to Jesus and spent every waking moment preaching the Word of God. Here is the description of “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS” presented by Ichthus. 

Plenteousness vs Hastiness

5 “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty lead only to want.” ~ Proverbs 21:5

Those who rush through their lives, or give bad advise hoping to manipulate others thus wasting those peoples time and energy lead only to despair and wanting. Ironically all those who are affected by these manipulators also find nothing but wanting. In part it was the act of laziness which provoked this vicious cycle of hastiness and manipulations because it would have been harder to have been diligent and followed the ways of God. I say to you those who rush through activities also rush through everything giving no thought or concern for others in all areas of their life. Some will claim that they just wanted to get it over, some will claim that it didn’t matter any way, and still others will claim the experience would not have had any other conclusion, but I tell you these claims are false before the eyes of God. These people cut corners, cheat, lie, scheme, and do not care who they hurt. To see through this deception the simple test is to ask yourself if they saved any time by their hasty actions? Was there anyone hurt by what they did or was there anyone not accounted for in their hasty plans? Odds are someone was forgotten, someone was hurt, someone was cut off. In many instances there will be many people affected indirectly and  wether they realize it or not, their time has been stolen by the lazy selfishness of another. Whereby the exact opposite of hastiness and manipulation is that of living in plenty, living within the rules given by God and always doing your do diligence. When you meet a person who carries these attributes their goals and careful thought of others is easy to see. They do not rush into action, they instead take their time to consider all outcomes and to be frank, this takes time and effort. Some of us would say that we fit safely into this category, but truth be told many do not. It takes a certain level of maturity, wisdom, and love for your fellow man to be put within this very small group of people. These people of plenty are again ruled by the laws of God, and they do what is right, not what is convenient or fun. They keep the focus on God and give God all the glory when miracles happen in their lives. They are the most happy people you could ever hope to meet because they indure regardless of the hostility of others towards them and or harshness of their environment. They convert the non-believers and are methodical in action always persevering when others say it’s impossible. The people of plenty are the jewels of God, they are His most honored and the richest in the world as their hearts are filled with perpetual happiness and love from God. In the end we all have a choice, to be filled with plenty every day for the rest of our lives or to cheat and steel, making everyone around us miserable and accomplishing only despair for ourselves and others. We can take our time and smell the roses God has for us in His garden (so to speak) or we can rush through life chopping down every opportunity that could have been that singular flower that changed your life and way of thinking for ever. You can be diligent and patient or you can be rude and hasty, the choice is yours alone to make.

Laziness is Self-Limiting

7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” ~ John 15:7

Many people use excuses that  blame Jesus for their own laziness. According to Dan Waldschmidt’s blog posting tilted, “Jesus Doesn’t Do Lazy”, he points out that waving religion around as an excuse to not doing what it takes to succeed is not going to get you anywhere in life. Waldschmidt plainly states, “No amount of religion or spirituality can replace good old fashioned hard work. There are a lot of excuses that we  use to justify not working as hard as we should. One of the most deceptive excuses is religion. Instead of getting back up after a failure or trying a little bit harder along the way, we use the excuse that “if it was supposed to happen it would have happened” — inferring that some Higher Being controls how hard we try or not. Which is just silly. And self-limiting.” ~ Waldschmidt, Dan (Jan.23, 2013) Found online at: http://danwaldschmidt.com/2013/01/attitude/jesus-doesnt-do-lazyWaldschmidt has a point, for the Lord helps those who helps themselves. God rewards good behavior, not bad behavior. To many people assume because they pray, (sometimes),  or  look religious to others they will be rewarded. This is not the case. Praying is an activity you should be doing anyway, religion should be a personal matter between you and God and not used to impress others. Your walk with God is a special relationship that is between you and God, and if someone asks and you share then let Gods words do all the talking. One does not need to push religion to win an argument or make appoint  rather God is way to sophisticated for his words and promises to be used in a cat-fight. We share our faith to enhance our brethren’s faith, not to force your thoughts, beliefs, and ideas upon them. Truth is that, “There’s a direct connection between how hard you work the success that you achieve. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. Hard work always gets you better results. Laziness always ends up in failure.” ~ Waldschmidt, (2013). Laziness is self-limiting because you place an artificial cap on your own efforts expecting to fail, coupled by blaming God for the failure you have placed a mark of failure upon your heart. Failure can drive many people to laziness, to blame others, to ignore the obvious truth of the lack of their own efforts. Case in point: The Listening Faithfully Blog was not a popular blog in the beginning, but over time and writing many posts there came a point when people came, read, and came back week after week. 98% of all the comments I have received over the past five years has been positive and encouraging. In this time Listening Faithfully went from last page of the Google search results to number one. There are thousands of people around the world in almost every country that has logged in and visited many of our posts. Now imagine had I stopped after a January 2010 when I only received one view, or after the entire year of 2010 where I only received 1,090 views. In that case Listening Faithfully would never have grown into the success it is today tripling those stats every single month and gaining more and more follower, readers, and friends worldwide and changing lives in the process. Now, do I boast about this success, No, rather I thank God for His kindness and grace, and tell everyone who reads this blog to thank God for all the awesome blessings He has bestowed in your lives. In this action, when the miracles happen, you are proactive enough to thank God immediately more blessing are sure to come your way. But if laziness takes root, those blessing will never come, then the blaming and finger pointing begins, and your efforts will seem to have no effect. Hard work is the key, diligence is the key, belief in your future accomplishments is the key that lazy people are missing. Don’t falling to false teaching, not looking for a shortcut, not forcing others into misery, not being lazy is also the keys to defeating laziness and banishing it from your life forever. 

 

Amen

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Brian Keith

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