Last night Jodie Foster was a awarded a life-time achievement award at the annual Golden Globe Awards. Parents, her acceptance speech is a Proverbs 7 moment that must not be missed. Jodie Foster is an acclaimed actress. She is a skilled artist who has won numerous prestigious awards. She is also 50 and has two sons. In her acceptance speech she alluded to her homosexuality. For many, Ms. Foster, has lived out the American Dream. She is at the top of her profession, attractive, and appears to live as she pleases. She has children but is not restricted by marriage. But if you read her acceptance speech, a different picture emerges. (The speech can be easily located by a Google […]
Earthly Treasure
42 posts
With Christmas presents comes Christmas squabbles. Parents, you are familiar with this theme. There is the Christmas rush and the present wrapping. There is Christmas dinner and then Christmas cleanup. Then, after all is said and done, the squabbles begin. Present envy may set in. Some children become excellent time keepers, as in, “Mommy, he has had the car for 17 minutes, when is it my turn?” Other children become hoarders, as in, “All the presents in this corner are mine, so stay away!” Or, there is the dispute over whose present is whose. All of the challenging things your remember from last Christmas, but over the course of 364 days have somehow managed to forget, are back. […]
The parable in Luke 12 tells of a rich man who had every appearance of success. He had been so successful in his farming endeavors that he had run out of room to store his crops. That was good, right? His good planning and hard work had paid off. He was financially secure. Today, money fund managers would have been lining up at his door to help him manage his wealth. As he considered his options, one stood out. He would tear down his barns and build bigger ones. Luke 12:18-19 says: 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my […]
The Christmas gift giving season is often a time of conflict for believers and their families. There is a temptation to express our love for each other in ways that we cannot really afford financially. Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, has produced a twenty day study on stewardship that is the perfect way to prepare for the upcoming gift-giving season. The study only takes 15-20 minutes each day and this would be a valuable addition to your family worship time. This will help you and your family focus on what is truly valuable and provide needed perspective on what gifts are truly special. As always let me know your thoughts. We will come back to this issue as […]
The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. —Psalm 119:72 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. —Colossians 3:16 This is the season for giving gifts. Parents everywhere are thinking about what their children want for Christmas and, perhaps, what they would like to give their children for Christmas—two things which are not always the same. More often than not, values differ; that difference leaves you with the question, what should we get the kids for Christmas? Consider your own values. […]
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Philippians 3:7&8 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72 Knowing Christ is a great thing. That is easy to say but challenging to live. Just how great is it? Taken at face value, Paul’s words in Philippians are stunning. So is the verse from Psalm 119. Nothing compares to knowing Christ and loving his words. These are two themes from the Gospels that are […]
The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72 NIVThe law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Psalm 119:72 ESV This verse in Psalm 119 presents a challenging question to you as a Christian parent. Is this truth something that influences you more than your bank balances? The psalmist proclaims the word of God is of such value that gold and silver pale in comparison. Take some time to consider this reality. Is this your testimony? Would your children say this verse speaks accurately of you and what you value? Give this some thought. Let me know what you think. We […]
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be […]
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. I Timothy 6:17 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15 Some of you may remember the post from last May about “God and gas prices.” Now, six months later, the price for a barrel of oil has dropped to below $70 for the first time in fourteen months. The price for gasoline is once again below $3 […]
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his […]