Month: June 2024

Fathers have the responsibility to support and care for their children

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Fathers have the responsibility to support and care for their childrenA child is a precious gift from God, a blessing that brings joy and fulfillment to parents. As fathers, it is our responsibility to support and care for our children, without any prejudice of their birth.

Firstly,

the Bible teaches us that children are a blessing from God. In Psalm 127:3-5, it is written, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” This passage emphasizes the value and importance of children in our lives.

Furthermore,

the Bible instructs fathers to take responsibility for their children. In 1 Timothy 5:8, it is written, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” This verse highlights the importance of providing for our children’s needs, regardless of their birth circumstances.

In addition,

the Bible teaches us to love and care for our children unconditionally. In Matthew 7:11, Jesus teaches us, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” This passage emphasizes God’s love and care for us, and our responsibility to reflect that love to our children.

Moreover,

the Bible encourages us to be involved in our children’s lives. In Proverbs 22:6, it is written, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” This verse highlights the importance of guiding and directing our children in the way of the Lord.

Finally,

the Bible reminds us that our children’s destiny is tied to our obedience to God’s commands. In Deuteronomy 28:32, it is written, “Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand.” This passage emphasizes the importance of obeying God’s commands, including the command to care for our children.

In conclusion,

the Bible teaches us that children are a gift from God, and as fathers, it is our responsibility to support and care for them, regardless of their birth circumstances. We are called to provide for their needs, love and care for them unconditionally, be involved in their lives, and obey God’s commands to ensure their well-being and destiny. Let us embrace our role as fathers and bless our children with the love and care they deserve.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL FATHERS ACROSS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD

Sincere dating allows us to be original and confident

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Sincere dating allows us to be original and confident in the person we are.

 

First of all, let us look at the word DATING. Dating is a form of romantic courtship typically between two individuals with the aim of assessing the other’s suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse. 

  To be sincere means to be original, truthful, genuine, to be pure, to mean what one says or does, not lying. 

  In a relationship, dating is a very crucial period when partners try to know each other better. In some partners, the dating period determines the success or failure of their relationship. In the dating period, some partners claim who they are not, and that is why some spouses after their marriage will say ‘ I didn’t know that he/she is like this ‘. They have been pretending to be who they are not. Prov 12:22  says that the Lord detests lying lips but delights in people who are trustworthy.

 

Here are some reasons why sincere dating allows us to be original and confident in the person we are.

 

1) Sincere dating helps partners to build trust in each other. When you are sincere, your partner believes in whatever you say or do without any doubt or fear.

 

2) It helps us to be who we are. In some dating where sincerity is lacking, some partners will tell themselves many lies, and after their marriage, they will be surprised to see a different personality apart from whom they claim to be. It is better to be proud of whom we are. In Psalm 139:14, the Psalmist says ‘ I praise you Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made’.

 

3) It makes us to be confident anytime anywhere without being afraid of being exposed.

 

4) It inculcates self-esteem and self-respect.

When you lied about your real identity and your partner came to know, you have sold your self-esteem and self-respect. You will be ashamed of the outcome of your lies.

 

5) Sincere dating helps your partner to defend you anytime knowing fully that you are who you said you are. If someone comes to gossip about you,  your partner will defend you at all costs.

 

6) Sincere dating helps you to face any challenges in marriage.

If you are sincere during the dating period, if gives you the confidence to face any challenge that occurs in marriage knowing fully that the problem is not coming as a result of insincerity during dating.

In Ruth 1:1-end, the bible tells a story of Naomi and her daughters-in-law. Because sincerity had existed in their relationship, when challenges came upon them, Ruth didn’t abandon her mother-in-law and the bible told us how God rewarded her at last.

 

In conclusion,

Sincerity is the bedrock of any relationship. It builds love, confidence, and originality among partners.  It makes spouses to be happy and proud of each other.

May God help us to be sincere in life and in our relationship. Amen.

To pray for others is to pray for yourself.

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To pray for others is to pray for yourself.

 

To pray for others is to pray for yourself.There is a game my teacher in Sunday School introduced me to when I was younger. The game is called “angel and mortar.” In this game, the names of everyone in the room will be written on different pieces of paper and wrapped in such a way as to conceal the names. Each one of us would then pick up a name of a person already wrapped in a paper. 

 

After this, we would spend a particular period of time praying for the person we picked in our personal time with God. The game was conducted in such a way that the people we were praying for would not even be aware that we picked their names. At the end of the stipulated period, we would each then give our prayer partners special gifts they would appreciate. It was always a surreal experience and it was so much fun.

 

But beyond that, it was always fulfilling because it was a privilege to see someone you had prayed for doing better. The basis for this game as taught by our Sunday school teacher was the story of Job. The Bible says that God instructed Job to “pray for his friends,” after which his fortunes were restored. Now, it’s interesting to know that God did not tell Job to pray for himself before he would be restored. God rather told him to pray for his friends for his (Job’s) restoration (Job 42:7-10).

 

This teaches us that there is power when we pray for others and not just ourselves. Firstly, praying for others rids us of our natural selfishness. You know, there was a time I got so insecure around my younger sister. I was literally jealous of her. However, I was shocked to the bone when the Holy Spirit instructed me to pray for her. In my mind, I was like, “What in the world, God! That’s someone who is literally better than me in everything. How do I pray for someone to increase higher when I am so low?” But then, the Holy Spirit helped me and I did begin to pray for her. And God has come and is still coming through for me in various ways.

 

Intercession is a great thing. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26-27). So does Jesus (Heb. 7:25), and He desires us to imitate and imbibe His nature. Truly, when you pray for others unselfishly and from your heart, God hears and He comes through for them – but not without coming through for you in an even greater way! God is pleased when we pray for each other. 

 

It shows that we are truly walking in love and we are truly concerned about one another’s well-being. It shows God that though we have our own problems, we are setting them aside, so we can bring to Him the problems of others. It shows that we are carrying one another’s burdens (hence fulfilling God’s law of love) (Gal. 6:2). What can make God happier than that? 

 

When God sees a heart that truly loves unselfishly and comes to Him – as a Father that cares – with the burdens of others, He will bless such a heart. 

 

Pray for someone today!