Today’s Devotional – February 16th (Joys of Parenthood!)

By admin On February 15th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 16th

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THE LITTLE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD!

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“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with songs

and everlasting joy upon their heads:

they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Isaiah 35:10

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There are many times when parents experience real joy watching their young children!

.Baby-in-diaper-learning-to-walk-wikimedia-share-alike-license

For instance, when the baby speaks its first word. Or the baby’s first steps. Or the first haircut. It’s moments like these which bring such joy to parents, even a tear to the eye, at times.

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And then as the child grows, the moments of joy grow too!

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For instance, watching them board the school-bus for the very first time on their very first day of school.

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Or reading their very first report card.

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These are but a few of the little things which parents enjoy, as their children begin their journey through life.

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Baby in diaper learning to walk – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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MANY PARENTS AFRAID OF MISSING OUT

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But many parents erroneously believe that they will somehow deprive their children of the joys of life, by raising them to become Christians.

. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:I_Have_No_Idea_(8462528057).jpg

Well, it may be true that the children will miss out on the many selfish pleasures of this sad world, and even a few world holidays.

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But this present world is so very short. And all too soon, those golden moments fade away like the proverbial “flower of the field”.

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Listen to the short life of the flower of the field as opposed to the timelessness of Heaven… “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children;” Psalm 103:15-17

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Photo: Kids on skateboards – wikimedia – creative commons license

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camp_Worship.JPG

CHRISTIAN PARENTS HAVE JOYS TOO!

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But the fact is, by depriving their children of a Christian upbringing, such parents will miss out on some of the really big joys, which only Christian parents get to experience.

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Such joys as hearing the child say , “I love Jesus!” Or the first time that the child joins the family in singing a worship song around the family altar. Or the first time the child recites a Bible verse.

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And then, as the child gets older, the times of joy continue. For instance, the first time that parents see the child reading the Bible or praying all by themselves. Or the joy that parents feel when the child chooses home-schooling over going to a public school. Or the first time the child makes the choice to read the Bible rather than some secular book.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prayer_Mother_and_Daughter.jpg.

Then as the child even gets older and continues to enjoy Christian victories, parents receive great joy from seeing each and every victory as their child chooses to reject sin!

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These are just a few of the countless joys that the Christian parent experiences with their children.

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Girls celebrate at Camp Worship Wikimedia Commons Creative Commons lic.

Child at Prayer by Eastman Johnson circa 1873 – Wikimedia – public domain

Prayer – Mother and Daughter – Wikipedia – (cropped image) the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

 

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THE GREATEST JOY!

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Louis_Janmot_-_Po%C3%A8me_de_l%27%C3%A2me_5_-_Souvenir_du_ciel.jpg

But the greatest joy that Christ-loving parents will experience is on Resurrection Morning, when they see their son or daughter also rise up from the grave, to meet Jesus!

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And an equally wonderful joy will be when they get to see their son or daughter throughout all eternity, experiencing the never-ending joys that God has in store for all those who were redeemed from this lost and hopelessly dying world.

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This is the greatest joy that any parent could ever experience, and is worth more than all those supposed sacrifices that Christian Pilgrims make in Jesus’ name.

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Louis Janmot – Wikimedia – US public domain

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WHY TRADE AWAY EVERLASTING JOY?

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“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36, 37

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Louis_Janmot_-_Po%C3%A8me_de_l%27%C3%A2me_5_-_Souvenir_du_ciel.jpgSo, perhaps the question to be asked is this: is it worth trading away all the everlasting joys for both me and my children so that I can enjoy a few selfish years of miserable pleasures here on earth?

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This above passage recounts the very words of Jesus Christ, and is directed to each and every one of us!

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And none of those little earthly pleasures and joys can ever compare to the great joy that awaits all those who are willing to walk the Pilgrim’s Way to that heavenly city!

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“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10

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Yes, gladness and joy will be the everlasting reward of the redeemed ones!

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Louis Janmot – Wikimedia – US public domain (cropped)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to really think this thing through. Help me to understand the enormity of everlasting life…

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…December 31st (The Eternity Game!)“, Or you may also read… January 9th (Forever is a Very Long Time!)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.Soldiers of the Cross - Armor-Up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

 

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LOCATING ARCTURUS…

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An easy way to find Arcturus is to follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, in the spring through fall (these are the months in which Arcturus is visible).

.summer with 7stars & ark

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SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: (Sketch to right: constellations span the heavens (Ark in south, 7 Stars in north), and travel from east to west through the night.

This sketch is of the Summer Constellations as they appear when in the western half of the night sky. The box-like constellation is the The Ark of the Covenant (AKA Sagittarius) is in the south. To the right is both the Flower of the Field Constellation (AKA Scorpius) and the The Cross/Scepter Constellations. Further to the north is the Crown of Revelation Twelve (AKA Corona Borealis Constellation) and the star, Arcturus. Farthest to the north is the 7 Stars Constellation (AKA The Big Dipper )

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Arcturus (the star that wise-men follow!)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpg

TOMORROW: 

February 17th (Examine Yourself!)

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth)  ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #47 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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