" CHILDREN "

How often do you find yourself thinking about your children? My Bible shares with me that Job didn't take anything for granted. I believe that because of the vastness of his property and the time it must have taken to go from point "A" to point "B" he took spiritual matters into his own hands. Because there were no priests to instruct him in God's laws, Job acted as the priest and offered sacrifices to God to ask for forgiveness for sins he and his family had committed. Obviously Job did not consider himself sinless. It's been said that Job did this out of conviction and love for God, not just because it was his role as head of household. As a modern-day Job, because my children are in their mid to late thirties, I think about my children often and most especially about their spiritual welfare. I think and pray for my children often as I have learned I cannot afford to take anything for granted. Satan is likened as a roaring lion. When is the last time you read (1 Peter 5:8) " Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour").

Don't you ever take your children for granted!
Psalms 127:3 - 5: (3) " Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. (4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. (5) How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate."

God places much value on human beings and He has a special love for our precious offspring. Children are an amazing gift of the Lord, a reward. Four of my grandchildren are teenagers and they are truly astonishing. Have you ever just watched how a child or a teen maneuvers through life? They are blessed with magnificent natural abilities from God. We can learn lessons from our children that I would say are as good as gold. I must admit that I'm still bewildered as to how much our Lord and God cares for us. Those who view our children as a distraction or even a nuisance should instead see them as an opportunity to shape the future. We dare not treat children as an inconvenience when God values them so highly.

We are fragile beings, but our Father God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God the Father as judge and lawgiver, ignoring His compassion and concern for us. When our Father examines our lives, He remembers our human condition. Our weakness should never be used as a justification for sin. His mercy takes everything into account. God will deal with you compassionately.

Trust Him and cherish your babies. See the value in every single person as they are someone's child.

Until next time.

Jim