TRUSTING IN THE LORD

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

These are two of my many favorite verses in the bible, but over the last few weeks they seem to have taken on a more personal meaning in my life.  They were not just merely words that I simply repeat, but instead they are words that I had to put into action.  
There are some key words in these verses that I would like to define by looking at the Hebrew translation.
Trust:  means to be confident or sure, to be bold or to hope.
Heart:  is widely used for the feelings, the will and even the intellect, likewise for the center of anything.
Lean: To support one’s self- , lie, rely, rest- oneself
Acknowledge: To ascertain by seeing, recognition
Direct: to be straight or even, to be right
Paths: a well-trodden road
Solomon was one of the wisest persons that ever lived, and the book of Proverbs can be seen as pearls of wisdom.  Solomon is encouraging us not to trust in self, or others but instead to trust in the Lord.  To capture the essence of what Solomon was saying I would rewrite these verses as: Have confidence or hope in the lord, with all your will and intellect and do not try to rely on your understanding of things.  Instead in everything recognize who the Lord is and He will put you on the well- trodden road.
So many times we try to explain things that happen in our lives according to our simple or natural way of thinking, which most times are so limited and flawed.  We try to make conclusions from what we can see forgetting that what we see is only a snap shot of a bigger picture that far exceeds our range of vision.  
At the moment I am at the point where I truly have to “put my money where my mouth is”.  I cannot understand why a 28 year old young man, gainfully employed, owns his own home, a car, just received a full scholarship to one of the best schools in the country, just fallen in love, having no physical complaints went to bed one night and never woke up.  I do not understand, why a couple suddenly loses there only two children in a horrible accident, not even being able to recover their bodies.
 I do not know about you, but it just does not make sense in my understanding.  This is where I have to have the confidence that God knows sees and understand things that I do not know, see or can even begin to understand.  This is where “In all thy ways” became much clearer to me.  It is not just depending on God to have the understanding in some but in all things, big or small.  The picture of a person having to take a journey blind-folded and who must rely on being led by the hand in order to get to his destination suddenly pops in mind.  That person must trust the one who is leading him and is seeing, and just follow closely.  It is futile to ask why are you turning this way versus that way, because of course with blindfolds on they cannot see what lies ahead.

This is the time when I have to remind myself not only of God’s character but also of his track record.  So because I know that He is faithful, keeps His word, is not a man that He should lie, that He knows the plans He has for me and that he wants the best for me, and that He is a loving father that He loves me unconditionally.  Because I know that He will never leave me nor forsake me that He will turn to good what the enemy meant for bad, and that He never changes, I have made up my mind that I will continue to trust Him.

So whatever situation you are going through, God is faithful and is able to bring you through it. Is it your marriage, a bitter divorce, loss of your home from a fire or foreclosure, disappointment in people, betrayal, loss of a job through downsizing, rebellious children, sudden death of a relative? God is Faithful and He has a way of turning things around so that He will get the Glory and shame the Devil. God foreknew that these situations would come and although they caught us by surprise, God was prepared and already has a plan in place to work these situations out for our good.

So as bad as it seems and as painful as it gets Like I am doing at the moment, TRUST Him with all your heart, let Him direct your paths ones that have been well trodden, He has been down them others also have been down them, so can you.  Trust Him and watch Him turn our Pain into Praise, our Confusion to Peace, our Sadness to Joy and our Mourning to Dancing

In His Service,

Vilma

Discerning the Times and Seasons: Part 3

As promised we will conclude our discourse on “Discerning the Times and the Seasons”.  The question was asked last week- as to who were the sons of Issachar.  Before I answer this question, let us look at who Issachar was.  Issachar was one of the sons of Leah , who was married to Jacob- the one he really did not like.  Let’s look in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 30: 20 - And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
The Hebrew translation of the name Issachar is “he will bring a reward, man for hire”
Further along in Genesis we are told who the sons of Issachar were by name:
Genesis 46: 13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. 
Why are the sons of Issachar so important when we talk about discerning the times and the seasons?  

I Chron. 12: 32: And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.

These men were cognizant of what was happening so at the right time they knew exactly what Israel needed to do when it came to Saul’s successor.  Saul was dead and it was time for David to be crowned king, however the tribe of Benjamin had their own idea of who should be successor.  The sons of Issachar and other leaders from the tribe of Issachar knew that it was time to become part of David’s army to elevate David to the throne of Israel.
It was obvious to these men that Saul had not been a good king and keeping the kingship in the tribe of Benjamin would not be wise.  David by virtue of his character and his ability was definitely the real leader.  He was the type of king Israel needed during the turbulent times they were undergoing.  The sons of Issachar knew what God had said about the scepter coming out of the tribe of Judah.  David was from the tribe of Judah and was more than qualified to be the next king.  The sons of Issachar knew exactly what to do.  They knew that all of the tribes should get together and crown David as the new King of Israel.  What would have happened if these men had not stepped up?
Like the sons of Issachar as leaders, we need to recognize the time and season and know how to choose the right leader in your church, for your country or in your organization.  In order for leaders to be effective it is critical that they understand the time. 

What is happening around you that you are tolerating knowing full well that this is not what God requires?  We must apply the truth of God’s word to our everyday life and culture.  The church should be in a position where they are consulted when it comes to appointing leadership, why because we should have the discernment.

Have you stayed too long at a place, in a job, in a relationship, at a church, an environment not knowing that what you are holding onto is dead and that you need to move on. The time has come to move away from the palace of Saul, and if God has ordained it , it is much better to be in the Cave with David. A new season has arrived and you are not seeing it. Stop trying to plant corn in the winter time or sleep while it is day.

How can we apply the truth of Scripture in a meaningful way to our generation?  Can’t you see the war that is being waged against the truth?  Can you hear how distorted some people relate God’s word so that it makes them feel comfortable in the things that they are doing that the Bible speaks against?  We must arise and speak the truth.  We are in a time when truth has no relevance any more. When Christ is not honored or sought after or presented as the Christ. Understanding the time was not only for the sons of Issachar but it is for us as well.

In order to understand the times and the seasons we need to be consistently in the word of God.  In addition we need to pray and ask God for a revelation of His truths.  We need to ask God for discernment to know when to act. We do not want to miss the opportunity.

I pray that as mothers we will become like the sons of Issachar.

In His Service

Vilma

Discerning the Times and Seasons: Part 2

For this week we will continue our discourse concerning “discerning the times and the season”.
Do you realize that the key to flowing with God despite circumstances in life is to understand that with God there is an appointed time and season for everything.  Let us look at the Greek definition of the word “time”

There are two Greek words for time:

Chronos: refers to a space of time  such as years old, season, space

Cairos refers to an occasion or  proper time, convenient, due
There are two verses in from the book of Galatians which portrays this point very clearly.
 Gal 6:9- And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  In other words in the proper time, when it is convenient - so it would appear that regardless of how anxious that we may be for things we just have to wait for the proper time, which most time does not coincide with our time.  
That special car, that dream house, that husband, or that child, going back to school, birthing that ministry, yes they will come but in due season.  While you wait for the fulfillment- keep working, and whatever happens do not miss the opportunity to move when the time comes.

Gal 4:4- But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. 
The word fullness in the Greek means completion, accomplish, end.
Again as we look at this verse, we clearly see that Jesus did not come according to the wishes of the people who were longing for the messiah, instead God sent Him when what all that  was needed to come pass as predicted in the Old Testament was completed.

Just remember that for each of us, our due season and our fullness of time will always be on time.  God will not miss it, He will never be too early or too late.

The bible warns us of things to come,  and it clearly tells us what to look for, see these as opportunity for you to act and do what is required of you to advance His Kingdom.  Let us not be like the 5 foolish Virgins who were caught without oil in their lamps and miss the bridegroom (Mathew 25: 1-13).  Instead let us be prepared like the five wise virgins or like the sons of Issachar.
Who are the sons of Issachar?  I am so glad you asked.  Stayed tuned and get your answer as we conclude this series on next week.

In His Service,

 Vilma

Discerning The Times and Seasons

This may seem like a strange topic to be discussing on a site dedicated to mothers "praying for their children".  However, I do believe as with everything else, this topic is just as important to mothers as to everyone else.  If as mother we are unable to discern times and seasons, then we will be left either expecting things when it is not the time for it or when the time is come for making a move we miss it.  For the next couple of weeks I will discuss this topic of “discerning the Times and the seasons” as it is impossible to do so in just one post.

The relationship that we have with our children do go through various seasons, there is the season as a mother when our children are totally dependent on us for everything, then there is the season, where they become partially dependent where they can do some things for themselves but are still dependent on us for some things and this season sometimes last very long and may extend beyond their graduation from college.  There is another season when they become independent and leave home to live on their own, get married and start their own family.  

We need to recognize these times of transition or changes of the seasons so we will know how to behave accordingly.  There are times when we try to continue to manage their lives and interfere when instead we need to step back some.  This only creates problems with our relationship with them, but it causes us to become frustrated.  It is like seeking a harvest when it is winter.

Throughout the bible there are many references to times and seasons.  I will not be able to discuss all these references but will discuss some and give you references for others that you can read at your leisure.

Hosea 4: 6 states: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 

The word “destroyed” here means to perish, cease, be cut down, destroy, be brought to silence, be undone.  The word “knowledge” in the Hebrew means: awareness, cunning. 

In other words people are being cut down, and silenced because of a lack of awareness.

Discerning the time and seasons was challenged by Jesus himself in Luke 12.

Luke 12: 54-56: And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.  And when [ye see] the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. And when [ye see] the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.  Ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?  

From this passage we see where Jesus was rebuking the people for being able to read the signs in the heaven in terms of what kind of day it will be whether it will be rainy or windy, or hot, however they still were unable to discern the signs that God was showing them regarding the coming of the messiah.  Before we criticize these people, many of us are in the same position, where we are not able to see what God is showing to us.

Do you know what God is saying to you as a mother?  Can you recognize the signs that He is trying to show to you? Do you realize that It is impossible to know God’s way of doing things unless we have a spiritual discernment of the times or “seasons” that we are in.  

Stay tuned for the remainder of this dialogue!.

In His Service,

Vilma

PRAYING FOR MY CHILDREN'S SALVATION

For this blog I would like to turn our attention on praying for our children’s salvation.  I have addressed this on previous occasions but because it is so important I need to keep revisiting it.  Regardless of how successful our children maybe in life if they are not saved then they have nothing.  Their happiness and success is temporary.  We want to know that they have something that will last forever.  Our salvation opens the door to a lot of spiritual blessings.  They may be our children but they do not automatically become God’s children unless they have become born again.  It is only when we are born again that we become “sons and daughters” of God.  Not by osmosis.
As I pointed out in previous posts the general idea of the term Salvation is safety, deliverance, ease and soundness.  In the New Testament salvation is regarded almost exclusively as deliverance from the power and dominion of sin.

This fact is supported by the word of God in Mathew 1:21 -And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Acts 4:12- Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Hebrews 5:9- And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

The bible also tells us in John 14:6 -Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
 Regardless of how great we see our children, their basic nature is one of sin

Romans 3:23 supports this by saying: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Salvation is freely offered to all men but is conditioned upon repentance and faith in God. As we pray for their salvation please make sure that we share the word of God with them.

 Romans 10:14 -How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Father, I thank you that you so loved {insert name} that you gave your only Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  I thank you God that you promise in your word that If we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Father I thank you for (insert name) this/these gifts that you have blessed me with.  I pray for (insert name) salvation, knowing that although you created them, they are not yet your son or daughter.  I pray that his/her/their heart will be receptive the next time that he/she/they hear your word, (from me or someone else) and will want to readily receive you as their Lord and Savior.

If your children are saved please pray that they will remain faithful and continue to walk according to the word of God.  If they are saved but have backslidden then you can focus your prayer for their return to the passion and love they first had.

In His Presence,

Vilma

PRAYING SCRIPTURES

Praying the word of God over, for and with our children is extremely important and cannot be over emphasized.  Praying according to the word of God ensures that we are praying according to God’s will.  God honors His word, and as mentioned in previous posts He is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He should repent.  

Here is a verse of scripture that I want us to pray for our children
Psalm 86:10 &11-For thou [art] great, and doest wondrous things: thou [art] God alone. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
There are four great things that we can pull from this prayer that will be beneficial for us to pray.  
The first thing that we want to pray about is that our children will understand who God is: We want their eyes to be opened to His greatness and to the amazing things that He does.  We also want our children to know that He is the only true God.  It is not good enough for them to know that there is a God, but we want them to build a relationship with Him.  We want them to know Him in an intimate way.
 If our Children can understand this, then they will not spend time looking for an alternative, but will instead only look to Him for answers to questions that they may have, or things that they may struggle with.  If they get to really know who God is, it will make it so much easier for them to fall in love with Him.

The second aspect of this prayer is asking God to teach them His ways.  This is critical, because our ways are not usually His ways.  If our children are able to know God’s ways then they will know what He requires of them, what he wants.  They will not easily follow false shepherd or even their own understanding, but will allow the Holy Spirit to be their guide.

The third aspect of these verses is that our children will walk in the Truth.  We do not want them to simple know the truth but to walk in it.  We want them to reject any false teachings that they may hear, and develop a spirit of obedience to the truth of God’s word as it becomes clear to them.

The fourth aspect of this prayer is that our Children will have a united heart and will fear His name.
We want our children to have a singleness of heart, not to be double-minded. The bible tells us that a double-minded man is unstable in his way.  We do not want a part of their heart for the world and a part for God.  We also want them to reverence the name of the Lord.  We want them to know what His name means and all the power that is attached to His name.  We do not want our children to call the name of the Lord in vain, but with honor and purpose.

In His Service,

Vilma

STEWARDSHIP

  For today’s post I would like to talk about the word “Stewardship”  To get a good understanding of this word let me first look at a couple definitions.

The Merriam Webster dictionary, defines stewardship as: the office, duties and obligations of a steward.  The conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.  
Who then is a steward?  The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines the word steward as “head” person, manager, or overseer.

 The question I need to ask you: did you realize that as Christians we are stewards or managers?  Yes we do have the awesome responsibility of carefully managing something or someone entrusted to our care.

I Cor. 4:1-2: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

As managers we are expected to discharge our duties responsibly.  As faithful stewards it means that our owner will not need to worry if the work will get done, but will rest assured that it will be done and done well, not hurriedly and without thought.

In Matthew 25:14-19, we find the parable of the talents.

Verse 14: For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Not only are we stewards, but servants, left with some goods for a long time.  How long we are not even sure, but we do know that the Lord and master of us will return.

Each servant received an amount according to his ability.  In other words we all have something or someone that have been entrusted in our care to be used for God’s glory.  for which we will be accountable.  God is not expecting from us more than what we are able to do, He expects, however that we will do the best we can.

Verse 19: After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

What have you done with what you were given by your master?  Did you assume ownership because the true owner may have been away too long?  Or did you use it to bring Him glory and Honor?  Were you faithful?

I was reminded about being a steward with the recent passing of my 28 year old son.  As I mourn, I am reminded that I was just his overseer, and that his owner had just returned.  God reminded me that He has no grandchildren, and that my son was his child.  During my period of stewardship I became attached and forgot momentarily what my true role was.  So as much as I miss caring for this wonderful gift that was entrusted in my care, I must come to terms that his owner returned, and I hope that He was pleased.  I believed he was used to bring God Glory and Honor.

So as mothers, lets us faithfully discharge our duties as stewards.  Let us love, but at the same time remember to train them well.  Let us continue to P.U.S.H with all our strength with the one purpose in mind and that is to bring God Glory and Honor.

  

In His Service,

 

Vilma