11 “…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

Happiness comes with a quiet and tranquil life;

Proverbs 14:30 “A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.”

Many times we just stick our noses in the wrong places, for all of the wrong reasons. There ARE times to exhort one another in love;

I Thes. 2:3 “For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.”

However too often we fall into what the Bible refers to as “busybodies.”

2 Thessalonians 3:11 “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.”

I Tim. 5:13 “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”

So, if you aren’t part of the problem, or part of the solution, leave it alone. Not doing so is considered gossip, and God’s Word has a few things to say on that topic as well;

James 3:2-5 “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”

So do not add to the fire!!!

Proverbs 26:20 “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business.

Angelos

The ONLY perfect father is God Himself, our Heavenly Father. He meets every qualification for the task.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1

F for Faithful! - “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

A for Always there! - “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 15:5

T for Trustworthy! - “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.” 1 Kings 8:56

H for Honoring! - “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:26

E for Ever-loving! - “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3

R for Righteous! - “The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.”

S for Supportive! - “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

WHEN GOD MADE FATHERS.

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it … Dad

~~Author Unknown.~~

QUOTES

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”
~~Author Unknown

“It is a wise father that knows his own child.”
~~By William Shakespeare (1564-1616)~~

“It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.”
~~By Anne Sexton (1928-1974) U.S. poet.~~

“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.”
~~By Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)~~

“The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad!”
~~Author Unknown.

OUR FATHERS

Our fathers toil with hands and heart
To make our lives complete.
They quietly brave the winter cold,
Endure the summer heat.

Our fathers’ lives are busy, but
There’s always time for us.
They boldly face the ups and downs
And seldom ever fuss.

Our fathers are the greatest dads.
We know you know this, too.
But thank you for the chance to share
Our love for them with you.

~Author Unknown~

A FATHER MEANS…

A Father means so many things…
A understanding heart,
A source of strength and of support
Right from the very start.
A constant readiness to help
In a kind and thoughtful way.
With encouragement and forgiveness
No matter what comes your way.
A special generosity and always affection, too
A Father means so many things
When he’s a man like you…

~Author Unknown~

Men, let us become more and more like Jesus, and then we will be the father’s God wants us to be!

May God bless your day!

Angelos

So often others wrong us in many ways. Sometimes the wrong that has been done was on purpose, other times it was just a misunderstanding. Either way, it’s wrong to hold a grudge!

God loved us so much He not only died for us, but also removed our sin completely:

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

And that is the way God wants us to deal with others, in a totally forgiving way. Our sin nature causes us to remember each little trespass against us but God gave us the outline for true love. And true love does not keep a list of past misdeeds:

I Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Therefore, regardless of how you’ve been wronged in the past, if you are a Christian, you must not only be forgiving, you must also forget the offense. Some say to forgive, but do not forget, and do not trust. This belief or feeling is scripturally unsound, as demonstrated throughout scripture:

Phil. 3:12-16 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”

God paid your debt, a price that you could not pay, by sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross in your place. As a Christian, we have no other choice but to forgive, completely and forget the offense.

How many times should we forgive? EVERY SINGLE TIME! Peter asked Jesus the same question found in the book of Matthew, and goes on to tell a story (parable) about a king (God) and an unfaithful servant (representing you and me) and the story reveals the big picture very well:

Matthew 18:21 “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

If you forgive with conditions attached, you aren’t forgiving at all.

Angelos

I Corinthians 3:9-15 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

I Corinthians 3:10-15 is an awesome glimpse of judgment day for Christians;

II Corinthians 5:9-10 “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Each thought and action is carefully tested for true motives (v.13). There are rewards for those who were used by God and loss for those who were not (v.15). There will even be those whose final assessment produced nothing of eternal value, yet they will still go to heaven because they trusted Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Cross to pay for their sins. Those who don’t go to heaven meet a fate worse than imaginable as hell is hot, dark, and everlasting!

2 Thessalonians 1:3-9 “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power…”

Matt. 13:47-50 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Matt. 25:29-30 “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matt. 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…”

So don’t let anyone convince you that there is no hell. On the other hand, if you are in Christ by being born again, you are saved from the burning fires of hell to spend eternity in Heaven with our Lord.

Angelos

James 1:2-7 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Notice in the above passage verse 2, God says “when” not “if.” Every Christian is either learning, or getting ready to learn, through trials. Fortunately, when we experience difficult times, God says they will be used for good;

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

This is extremely comforting when the problems encountered are no fault of our own. God is always in control of every situation and uses the more difficult ones to produce fruit in our lives:

John 15:2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Every Christian who has a mature, tight, Godly, Christian walk has had to endure some difficult times. Thank the Lord for those difficult times, as they are what help make us more Christ-like.

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

So even though you may have been unjustly treated, know that the Lord will allow you to grow even stronger in your walk.

I Pet. 1:6-9 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

So don’t be upset or be down, rejoice and be glad for now you know the Lord is at work toward molding you into the person God wants you to be.

Angelos

On Sunday, May 11, 1877, the pastor of a Methodist Church left the pulpit abruptly, being distraught over the behavior of his son. Mrs. Blakely stepped to the pulpit to take over the remainder of the service and called for other mothers to join her. Mrs. Blakely’s two sons were so touched by her gesture that they vowed to return to their hometown of Albion, Michigan every year to mark their mother’s birthday and to pay special tribute to her. In addition, the two brothers also urged business associates and those they met while traveling for business to honor their own mothers on the second Sunday of May. They also urged the Methodist Church in Albion to set aside the second Sunday of each May to honor all mothers.

While there were local celebrations honoring mothers in the late 1800’s, it was largely due to the efforts of Anna Jarvis that Mothers Day became a national holiday in the United States. Anna’s mother, Mrs. Anna M. Jarvis, had been instrumental in developing “Mothers Friendship Day” which was part of the healing process of the Civil War. In honor of her mother, Miss Jarvis wanted to set aside a day to honor all mothers.

In 1907, Miss Anna began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. She persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother’s day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother’s Day was also celebrated in her own city of Philadelphia.

Miss Jarvis and her supporters began to write to godly ministers, evangelists, business owners, and politicians in their efforts to establish a national day for Mother’s. This effort was a success. By 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the second Sunday of May. I’m not at all surprised that the history behind Mother’s Day has biblical roots!

Leviticus 19:3 “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.”

The Bible says everyone is to honor his or her mother, and God is pleased when we take practical measures to fulfill this command.

Children of all ages should Love their Mother unconditionally. We are to care for Mom no matter how she carries out her responsibilities to her children. Some women will do better than others at living up to their God-given role. But all children are called to love their mother simply because the Lord has placed her in their lives.

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

God’s commandment to honor parents included a promise. He told the Israelites, which is recorded in Exodus 20, to treat parents with respect so “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” This command did not guarantee that respecting authority would necessarily mean survival till a ripe old age. The word “long” is to imply productivity, strength, and satisfaction rather than many years.

That divine promise still applies to believers today. Sadly, our busy schedules place a priority of independence over obedience and childish opinion over the wisdom that comes with maturity. In today’s world, which is anti-God, we see children of all ages rebelling, but they often seem to escape discipline. As a Sunday school teacher, I witness this even among the children in my classroom. This has led to two dangerous attitudes. One says people don’t need to accept responsibility for their actions. The other attitude permits neglecting of God’s will in favor of personal desires.

If we are to build a Christ centered community within a worldly culture, believers should instruct children to love God with all of their heart, soul and mind, honor their parents, and love their neighbor as themselves. One important way to teach this lesson is by modeling honor. Our families should see us treat our own parents with care and consideration. Honoring Mom and Dad is not a suggestion. The Lord has placed these important people in our life. Whether or not we feel they have served well in that capacity or not, we’re to obey God by offering them care and respect.

So, be attentive to Mom’s needs. Starting very young, kids are accustomed to taking from their parents. So it can be easy to forget that Mom and Dad have needs as well. Stop and consider what your mother might appreciate today. For example, helping around the house, making sure she does no work. etc.

Live righteously. Proverbs 23 says the greatest gift we can give a godly mother is to surrender our life to Jesus Christ. Even a mom who isn’t a Christian will no doubt take pride in a child who believes in God and whose life is filled with love, kindness, and charity.

And, pray for your mother today. Nothing is more important than prayer. Talking with the Lord about your Mother, both privately and in her presence, reminds her that she is important and loved. Remember, Mother’s Day isn’t the only time to show her your love and gratitude. Honor her every day.

Angelos

Isaiah 10:2 “To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.”

And the warning to that day’s, as well as to those who rule today “politicians and Judges” is severe:

Isa. 10:3 “What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your glory?”

This is just another good reason to pray for our leaders on a daily basis to enact God-centered laws!

Angelos

Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

And when we comprehend the great power that lives within us, we should not fear nor give up, but continue on knowing that we can overcome evil with good;

I John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

We can rest in the truth that believers have more power in them than Satan has in the world. Our adversary, the devil, doesn’t want Christians to know the power they received when they asked Jesus into their heart;

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Hebrews 2:14 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Satan is powerless over God and God lives in us. Think about that for a moment. God, the designer and builder of the entire universe, with power beyond comprehension, lives inside every believer;

Hebrews 1:3 “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

Yet most of the time we don’t act like it. The spirit God has been given us, is alive in us today, is powerful, living and disciplined:

II Tim. 1:5-7 “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”

Ephesians 3:14 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Knowing in our hearts what a great sacrifice that was made by our Lord, and the great debt that was paid on our behalf, how then should we live?”

This bible study is being offered to the membership and friends here at g4J to get kids and adults interested in knowing God’s will for their lives. Join us each Thursday night at 6:00 PM PST. We’ll go verse by verse through the entire book.

Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Exodus 15:2 “The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father s God, and I will exalt Him.”

All are welcome!

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