Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.  2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT

For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall. (Isaiah
25:4)

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him. (Philippians 3:8, 10)

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.–Psalm 22:7

Mockery was a great ingredient in our Lord’s woe. Judas mocked Him in the garden; the chief priests and scribes laughed Him to scorn; Herod set Him at nought; the servants and the soldiers jeered at Him, and brutally insulted Him; Pilate and his guards ridiculed His royalty; and on the tree all sorts of horrid jests and hideous taunts were hurled at Him. Ridicule is always hard to bear, but when we are in intense pain it is so heartless, so cruel, that it cuts us to the quick. Imagine the Saviour crucified, racked with anguish far beyond all mortal guess, and then picture that motley multitude, all wagging their heads or thrusting out the lip in bitterest contempt of one poor suffering victim! Surely there must have been something more in the crucified One than they could see, or else such a great and mingled crowd would not unanimously have honoured Him with such contempt. Was it not evil confessing, in the very moment of its greatest apparent triumph, that after all it could do no more than mock at that victorious goodness which was then reigning on the cross? O Jesus, “despised and rejected of men,” how couldst Thou die for men who treated Thee so ill? Herein is love amazing, love divine, yea, love beyond degree. We, too, have despised Thee in the days of our unregeneracy, and even since our new birth we have set the world on high in our hearts, and yet Thou bleedest to heal our wounds, and diest to give us life. O that we could set Thee on a glorious high throne in all men’s hearts! We would ring out Thy praises over land and sea till men should as universally adore as once they did unanimously reject.
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall. (Isaiah
25:4)

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him. (Philippians 3:8, 10)

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.–Psalm 22:7

Mockery was a great ingredient in our Lord’s woe. Judas mocked Him in the garden; the chief priests and scribes laughed Him to scorn; Herod set Him at nought; the servants and the soldiers jeered at Him, and brutally insulted Him; Pilate and his guards ridiculed His royalty; and on the tree all sorts of horrid jests and hideous taunts were hurled at Him. Ridicule is always hard to bear, but when we are in intense pain it is so heartless, so cruel, that it cuts us to the quick. Imagine the Saviour crucified, racked with anguish far beyond all mortal guess, and then picture that motley multitude, all wagging their heads or thrusting out the lip in bitterest contempt of one poor suffering victim! Surely there must have been something more in the crucified One than they could see, or else such a great and mingled crowd would not unanimously have honoured Him with such contempt. Was it not evil confessing, in the very moment of its greatest apparent triumph, that after all it could do no more than mock at that victorious goodness which was then reigning on the cross? O Jesus, “despised and rejected of men,” how couldst Thou die for men who treated Thee so ill? Herein is love amazing, love divine, yea, love beyond degree. We, too, have despised Thee in the days of our unregeneracy, and even since our new birth we have set the world on high in our hearts, and yet Thou bleedest to heal our wounds, and diest to give us life. O that we could set Thee on a glorious high throne in all men’s hearts! We would ring out Thy praises over land and sea till men should as universally adore as once they did unanimously reject.
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall. (Isaiah
25:4)

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him. (Philippians 3:8, 10)

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.–Psalm 22:7

Mockery was a great ingredient in our Lord’s woe. Judas mocked Him in the garden; the chief priests and scribes laughed Him to scorn; Herod set Him at nought; the servants and the soldiers jeered at Him, and brutally insulted Him; Pilate and his guards ridiculed His royalty; and on the tree all sorts of horrid jests and hideous taunts were hurled at Him. Ridicule is always hard to bear, but when we are in intense pain it is so heartless, so cruel, that it cuts us to the quick. Imagine the Saviour crucified, racked with anguish far beyond all mortal guess, and then picture that motley multitude, all wagging their heads or thrusting out the lip in bitterest contempt of one poor suffering victim! Surely there must have been something more in the crucified One than they could see, or else such a great and mingled crowd would not unanimously have honoured Him with such contempt. Was it not evil confessing, in the very moment of its greatest apparent triumph, that after all it could do no more than mock at that victorious goodness which was then reigning on the cross? O Jesus, “despised and rejected of men,” how couldst Thou die for men who treated Thee so ill? Herein is love amazing, love divine, yea, love beyond degree. We, too, have despised Thee in the days of our unregeneracy, and even since our new birth we have set the world on high in our hearts, and yet Thou bleedest to heal our wounds, and diest to give us life. O that we could set Thee on a glorious high throne in all men’s hearts! We would ring out Thy praises over land and sea till men should as universally adore as once they did unanimously reject.
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall. (Isaiah
25:4)

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him. (Philippians 3:8, 10)

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.–Psalm 22:7

Mockery was a great ingredient in our Lord’s woe. Judas mocked Him in the garden; the chief priests and scribes laughed Him to scorn; Herod set Him at nought; the servants and the soldiers jeered at Him, and brutally insulted Him; Pilate and his guards ridiculed His royalty; and on the tree all sorts of horrid jests and hideous taunts were hurled at Him. Ridicule is always hard to bear, but when we are in intense pain it is so heartless, so cruel, that it cuts us to the quick. Imagine the Saviour crucified, racked with anguish far beyond all mortal guess, and then picture that motley multitude, all wagging their heads or thrusting out the lip in bitterest contempt of one poor suffering victim! Surely there must have been something more in the crucified One than they could see, or else such a great and mingled crowd would not unanimously have honoured Him with such contempt. Was it not evil confessing, in the very moment of its greatest apparent triumph, that after all it could do no more than mock at that victorious goodness which was then reigning on the cross? O Jesus, “despised and rejected of men,” how couldst Thou die for men who treated Thee so ill? Herein is love amazing, love divine, yea, love beyond degree. We, too, have despised Thee in the days of our unregeneracy, and even since our new birth we have set the world on high in our hearts, and yet Thou bleedest to heal our wounds, and diest to give us life. O that we could set Thee on a glorious high throne in all men’s hearts! We would ring out Thy praises over land and sea till men should as universally adore as once they did unanimously reject.

Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.

Proverbs 15:5  (New Living Translation)

In other words it takes two people growing in the word of God to make a successful life and marriage.  No, it is not easy!  You need all the prayer, and word time as well as practice before someone comes along and want to marry you.  Life with God is a tragedy waiting to happen.  No matter what people who say they are not Christians, have spent many long hours praying and talking to others about their marriage, mostly to Christian women and men.  Marriage is not self-serving, it is not a “what about me” thing.  Marriage is growing up together, compromise – coming to an agreement, getting to know one another.  We go through phases, infancy, crawling, walking, adolescence, and I guess my hubby and I are now getting to the young adult stage.  It’s a process!  You learn about yourself and you get to know the other person.

Men love your wives like Christ loves the church.  It is important for husbands and wives to take the word of God and practice it individually and together, this developes character and will stand against any turmoil that will arise in a marriage.  The husband is to take his rightful place in his marriage, as the spiritual head of the household, and the wife is to submit to his spiritual wisdom.  In order to know what that is, they must be in the word of God and practice it together.  It does not mean for a man to become the father of his wife, scolding, hitting, making fun of her, or any other abuse.  Same for the wife, making fun, critical, or shutting down?  That is not God.  Ephesians chapter 5;  1Corinthians chapter 7.  Labor and life of love!

  Next segment, “Arguments in the home bring unrest”.

Then Jesus explained the meaning “I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.”

Matthew 21:28-32 NLT

I write “parent” because whether you are a single parent or a married couple, each parent must nurture their children in a special way.  However, if you are married each parent though they are one, has special gifts in certain areas that can help solve discipline issues.  It is important the father in any child’s life single or not, take an active roll with the bringing up of their children.  It takes both parents to love and help their child grow up to be the best they can be.

It seems that discipline is no longer part of our culture.  Let’s take a look at our society today; children are getting involved with other children who have no discipline in their homes.  More and more crimes are being committed; drugs are more prevalent than ever before, children are being enticed by older children to take drugs as early as six years old.  Children do not know the difference between right and wrong, because the parents will not make the time to teach them, and those who can, rarely practice the difference themselves.  This behavior leads to total disrespect to parents, other adults and the elderly as well as other peer groups.

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon’s mother taught him life values.  These teachings I highly recommend to all parents single or married.  Proverbs 29: 15 say, “To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.” (New Living Translation)  Verse 17 tells us to discipline our children, and they will give us happiness and peace of mind.  When children are not taught the word of God they run wild, but if they are and they obey God’s word they whole family is in harmony. 

Children cannot grow to have healthy lives without parental leadership, which may require applying a little enforcement called a few, “swats.”  For some of you who do not know what a swat is, a couple of taps on the bottom with a fly swatter or flimsy house shoe.  Do Not Spank Your Child In Anger.  Do not allow yourself to become out of control.  Send them to their room and you go pray and ask for God’s guidance on how to handle the problem.  Then you take the Bible into the room after you have control and read the scriptures to them as to what God has to say on the issue.  Explain to them why you must get to the “seat” of the problem.   There are times children will do dumb stupid things that will annoy you to the end of your last nerve.  This is the time you stop and get a hold of yourself and let the word of God remind you of self control.  Proverbs 16: 32 tell us; “It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.  (NLT)  Galatians 5: 22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.”  (NLT)  It is important to display these qualities in the presence of your children which will help them to develop the same characteristics in their lives.

God disciplines those He loves and He punishes those of us who are His children.  Hebrews 12: 6, “For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes those he accepts as His children.” 

Guide With Love – Though is important to discipline our children it is utterly important to discipline  with love.  Talk to your child with a calm even tone, as though you are carrying on a normal conversation.  Scolding or nagging when disciplining them not only makes them feel worse than they should, but causes them to become agitated and will make things worse.  This will also cause other problems later with friends and family members, even teachers, causing them to become aggressive.  It is not necessary to verbally beat them to a pulp for their mistake.  Once you have explained to them what they had done was wrong, and you explained to them the plan of action for punishment, and then close the matter.  Let them know you will love them and you will always be there for them.

  We all have rules we must follow and when we do wrong we will be punished.  God is not pleased with those who do not follow His rules, (way) of life.  Believe it not, we parents need more teaching than our children!  Shalom.

Cheryl Kroll

© January 11, 2010

He turned his back on a relationship with God because he owned so much money that, his money and possessions owned him. He loved his money and stuff more than he loved God. He chose money (wealth and worldly possessions) over of a relationship with God.

If you are so attached to your money and things, that they have become more valuable to you than God, you are totally misguided.   A relationship with God is far more valuable.   Therefore, check yourself and make sure you are not so consumed with your money or things you own.  (Matthew 6:21).

God wants to be the most important thing in your life. Many Christians let the opinions of other people control their decisions, changing what they consider to be important.

(Matthew 6:33)  Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and, all the things you have need of will be added unto you.  Simple!