Finally Out Of Pain!

Most people in Ethiopia have never been to a dentist.  If they have ever seen a dentist, it was without Novocaine.  My son, Steven, is a dentist.  Over Thanksgiving break, he went to Ethiopia.  It was the most fulfilling ministry he has ever experienced.

He went with a group called Ethiopia Smiles.  There were about 100 of them but only three dentists.  In the few days that Steven was there, he pulled out over 200 teeth after giving the patients Novocaine.  Many of his patients wept with relief after enduring many years of pain.  One older woman clung to his legs weeping and thanking him over and over. He plans on going to poor countries as often as possible helping people in poverty with a very tangible need that he can easily fill.  

One day, they went to a very poor village and if someone in his group accidentally dropped their plastic water bottle, one of the villagers would quickly pick it up and it would become a treasure to them.  They finally had their own water bottle to fill!

Oh, the things we take for granted.  Dentists, for instance.  We can easily go to the dentist and get our teeth fixed.  Water.  We go to our faucet and get clean water to drink.  

However, the most valuable thing of all that we have is Jesus.  He is readily available to all.  With Him, we have freedom from sin, eternal life, saved from the wrath to come, hope, a future, etc.  Even though these Ethiopians are extremely poor, as soon as they meet Jesus, they are rich.  But my God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. {Philippians 4:19}

So, yes, Steven filled an urgent need in Ethiopia but he also went to share the love of Jesus with these people.  Teeth may only last a lifetime, but Jesus lasts forever.

He that believes on me as the scripture has said 

out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water...

I am the light of the world:  

he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, 

but shall have the light of life.

John 7:38 and 8:12

Does God Approve Of Polygamy?

Some people apparently think that God approves of polygamy.  One Christian couple tried to persuade Ken and me on one of my posts that polygamy is a good thing.  Yes, it did happen in the Old Testament but it produced very ugly fruit.  Those wives led their husbands, specifically King David and King Solomon, away from the Lord.  You know the ending of the story between Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, even though Hagar was only a concubine and not a wife.

In the New Covenant, which we live under since Christ died and rose again, there is no word of polygamy or multiple wives in the New Testament.  In fact,  all the verses addressed to husbands refer to his "wife" {singular} and the qualifications for any type of leader in the church state that he must be a husband of ONE wife.

With so much false teaching going around and many Christians being biblically illiterate, we must know Truth and where God stands on important issues such as marriage.  He ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman forever and always.  This was His design from the beginning and it has never changed nor will change with the changing seasons.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, 

and let every woman have her own husband.

I Corinthians 7:2

A bishop then must be blameless the husband of one wife...

I Timothy 3:2

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother 

and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

Raising Children Who Succeed In Life

Being trained to see a need, know you can fill that need, and then stepping up to do all you can is the formula for success.  This attitude starts in the toddler.  Most rich or successful people didn't start out rich or even start out trying to get rich.  They started out as people who observed a need and jumped in with all they had to fill that need, and the rewards just naturally followed.  {Debbi Pearl}

One outside group decided to do an experiment with a large company.  Inside the eating area, they put some crumpled up paper on the floor waiting to see who would pick it up.  All the employees just walked past it and ignored it.  Finally, the CEO of the company came in the room, picked it up, and threw it away.  Most CEOs see a need and jump in to fill that need.  This is usually how they got to the positions they have.

We are commanded to serve, for the greatest of all is the servant of all and the Bible promises that we will reap what we sow.  Therefore, when you put these two verses together, you can see anyone who is a true servant, looking for ways to help others, will reap bountifully.

My husband is a servant.  Whenever anyone needs something, they ask him because they know he will drop everything and do it.  Steven even remembers stopping by broken down cars on the way home from games to help.  Ken loves to help others and he is absolutely reaping what he has sown.  

Most children are taught completely different today.  They are taught that everyone owes them something.  We have created an entitlement society because of this.  We look out for number one and what we can get.  We aren't taught to be selfless and serve others.

The earlier you teach your children to do this, the better their life will become.  They will grow up working hard and serving others, a formula for success.  As long as we are doing what God has called us to do, He will take care of us for He promises us this.

Teach your children an attitude of gratitude and willingness to serve.  Their lives will be fruitful and you, as their parent, will be full of joy!

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, 
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, 
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, 
so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, 
you may abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Invasion Of His Privacy

Did you know that if a wife tries to control, manipulate, or nag her husband, it is an invasion of his privacy?  I wrote this on another post and a reader wanted to know what I meant by this.

If you are married with children and your mother keeps calling you asking you what you are eating, how you are dressing, what television shows you are watching, how you are raising your children, etc. and then proceeds in giving you her opinion about all of these and telling you what you are doing wrong, it would be an invasion of your privacy.  You are an adult and should be able to decide how you want to live your life.

This same principle applies to your husband.  He is an adult.  In fact, he is the head of the home.  You would never try to control, manipulate, or nag your boss, if you have one, so you should definitely not do any of these things to your husband.  It doesn't work.  I know.  I tried it for many years.

What freedom there is when you let all of this go and allow him to live his life the way he wants to live it.  When someone tries to control your life, you almost feel like you are in prison, not a good place to be.

So now that you know how wrong trying to control your husband is, you have no excuse.  If you are still trying to control him, release him from the shackles of your manipulation once and for all and give him the freedom he deserves, respecting his privacy to be a grown man.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop 
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 21:9