Proverbs 6:20-22
My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.
Children below the age of 9 are filled with such zeal and energy that it is hard to not see the goodness and potential which they are capable of as adults. Somehow, from the age of 12 onwards, and puberty kicks in, that all seems to change. Potential plummets down and goodness turns into rebellion.
Today, I was listening to a snippet of sharing of "Insight for Living" by Chuck Swindoll. As he talked about Ephesians 6:4, he highlighted 6 things which father's commonly do which exasperates their children.
i. Favouritism
ii. Overprotection
iii. Discouragement
iv. Neglect
v. Bitter words/abuse
vi. Failure to allow a child to grow up
There is no magical thing which a father or mother can do to see through the growth of their child. Parent's can only do this much and leave their children to choose the life which they want to live.
Biblically though, a good father commands the household to live right before God and man. Simple as it sounds, it's really a tall order as father's have to walk the talk as they set the standards for their family. Mother's have an equally important role as they are told to teach their children, which means all the step by step instructions and provision of guidance.
After all this is said and done, the rest is left to us as children to respond. Read the wise instructions in the passage below and live it out obediently. May the values and goodness required of our lives by our parents be imparted upon our lives.
blessings,
M.
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1)
30 July 2008
23 July 2008
End of the World
Matthew 16:2-3
"He replied,"When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."
I was in Taipei on a business trip and as I was in the chartered van going to the airport to pick up my Apac president, the driver was making small talk with me. As we talked about the weather and seasons which Taipei had, he mentioned that nowadays the weather has gone mad as it no longer rains when it's suppose to be rainy season and you can never rely on fixed weather seasons happening. Then he remarked that it's like that as the world comes to an end. That got me thinking.
Strangely, after this conversation, it seems that everytime there's a heat spell or rainy week, everyone who I talk to also seems to make mention that the weather is now cukoo because the world is coming to an end.
Jesus speaks of how we can interprete the weather by looking at the sky (micro-analysis) but don't look at the macro picture and realise that it is a strong sign of the End of the Age for mankind. Even though everyone confess that it's the end of the world, but somehow its superficial without the reality of the urgency of its truth.
The world is really coming to an end, now most around us are professing it and my fear is that our senses get dulled as we hear it constantly and throughout. It is a reality and a pressing one for us to note as the clock ticks closer and we haven't accelerated our actions to share the gospel of hope and love.
May we have eyes to perceive the urgency of the end times and choose to awake from our slumbering lives. Redeem the time!
blessings,
M.
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."(Matthew 24: 32-33)
"He replied,"When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."
I was in Taipei on a business trip and as I was in the chartered van going to the airport to pick up my Apac president, the driver was making small talk with me. As we talked about the weather and seasons which Taipei had, he mentioned that nowadays the weather has gone mad as it no longer rains when it's suppose to be rainy season and you can never rely on fixed weather seasons happening. Then he remarked that it's like that as the world comes to an end. That got me thinking.
Strangely, after this conversation, it seems that everytime there's a heat spell or rainy week, everyone who I talk to also seems to make mention that the weather is now cukoo because the world is coming to an end.
Jesus speaks of how we can interprete the weather by looking at the sky (micro-analysis) but don't look at the macro picture and realise that it is a strong sign of the End of the Age for mankind. Even though everyone confess that it's the end of the world, but somehow its superficial without the reality of the urgency of its truth.
The world is really coming to an end, now most around us are professing it and my fear is that our senses get dulled as we hear it constantly and throughout. It is a reality and a pressing one for us to note as the clock ticks closer and we haven't accelerated our actions to share the gospel of hope and love.
May we have eyes to perceive the urgency of the end times and choose to awake from our slumbering lives. Redeem the time!
blessings,
M.
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."(Matthew 24: 32-33)
