We Must Value Our Children!

 In the world today … full of genocide and abortion, sweat shops and street wars ... there doesn’t seem to be a lot of regard for our children. In many parts of our globe, they are considered a commodity .. beings to be used .. chattel for barter and trade. In our own country they have been relegated to the position of fetus.

Could we be making a BIG mistake? What does God think of children?

1. God considers children a gift that he has given us.
Genesis 33:5 "Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children: "And who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children that God saw fit to bless me with."


2. God considers children a blessing to society.
Matthew 21:15-16 "When the religious leaders … heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, "Hosanna to David's Son!" they were up in arms and took him to task. "Do you hear what these children are saying?"
Jesus said, "Yes, I hear them. And haven't you read in God's Word, 'From the mouths of children and babies I'll furnish a place of praise'?"

3. God considers children a depository of our Hopes.
King David said in Psalm 127:3-5 "Don't you see that children are God 's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep."


4. God feels that we should be responsible for our children.
Proverbs 22:6 "Point your kids in the right direction — when they're old they won't be lost."
Proverbs 29:17 "Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did — they'll turn out delightful to live with."


5. God gave us children to be an example to us all.
Mark 10:13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.


6. God gave us a warning about our attitude toward children.
Matt 18:1-7 Disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
"But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don't have to make it worse — and it's doomsday to you if you do."

I believe that just about says it all … what do you believe?

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

(Bible references from THE MESSAGE: by Eugene H. Peterson)

It's No Joke!

I recently read a story in the humor section of a magazine.

I seems an atheist was sitting in his seat during a flight and noticed across the aisle an elderly woman, reading her Bible.
After a while, he asked her, "Do you believe what you read in that book?"
"Yes, I do," she replied, smiling sweetly.
"Every word?" he asked.
"Yes, every word."
"Aw come on … do you really believe that Jonah was swallowed by a fish?" he scoffed.
"Yes, I do!"
"Prove it," the atheist retorted.
"Well, I can’t," the little lady replied. "However, when I get to heaven, I’ll ask him."
"What if he isn’t in heaven," the man smirked.
"Well, she responded without hesitation, "then you ask him!"

I giggled to myself until I realized that the joke was not funny. That man will someday believe in God, as we all will.

When we are standing before God’s throne, in judgement, the proof will be before us. But, by then, it may be too late to avoid an eternity in hell.

All of us will meet our maker. Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior will have the perfect lawyer … Jesus, Himself. Those who refused to believe or worst yet, never got around to believing will have no defense. They will stand condemned.

It will be an unbelievably awesome, knee-shaking event, standing before the Lord. Personally, I want to be well prepared for that meeting. I want Jesus on my side.

How about you? Are you a sinner … you better answer yes … we are all sinners. Will you stand before Him, trembling in your filthy rags, or will you be standing there dressed in the clothes that Christ’s blood supplied for you?

All you need to do is admit you are a sinner, repent of those sins, and believe that Christ died to save you from those sins. Let Him know … Jesus will do the rest.

It’s no joke! Take your pick … as for me and my house … I will chose Jesus!

Larry Abele, Editorial Team

Please Pray With Us ...

My good friend and one of the editorial team of this blog, Sasha Shein, sent me a prayer request. It concerned the news of further trouble in the area east of the Black Sea … Georgia, Russia and South Ossetia.

Paul, Sasha and I ministered to people in that area nearly 10 years ago. We were in the city of Vladikavkaz 20 miles north of the border of Georgia and 100 miles north of the capital of South Ossetia where the fighting is taking place.

It is a wildly beautiful area with humble, warm, beautiful people. Many times I find myself thinking back to those days among them. And I, along with Paul and Sasha, am grieved by this terrible news.

Let me share with you a portion of Sasha’s letter:

"Russian believers are greatly concerned and are praying for the people of South Ossetia. The aggression of Georgian troops and the genocide exercised by Georgian government must be stopped. Please pray for the people of South Ossetia and our fellow believers among them who I happen to know personally."

God proclaimed in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

This is personal to Jesus Christ, my friends; it is personal to us and it should be personal to you. Please pray for these precious people!

Larry Abele - Editorial Team