EXIT 47

Yea though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
One evening a couple who we minister to, invited us to minister to them. We had a great time with them. Anne, our friend cooked a nice meal and my husband shared the word of God with them, we prayed and we left their home at 12AM.
Daniel, gave us directions from their home in Franklin,Tennesee to our home in Murfreesboro, Tennesee.
We normally take the Route 96, a straight road to go home. But that day we decided to take the route that Daniel gave us.
We hit the road and it was dark. Pitch black. It was just me, my husband and Jordan who was only 16 months. It was a cold, winters night. Erie winds, freezing temperatures, snowing night.
We were half way in the middle of the road and then my eyes caught the fuel levels.
The reading showed "E" The tank was empty.
We have to drive another 30 minutes. No gas, dark night, snow on the road, not a soul in sight.
Yea, we were walking in the valley of shadow of death. Did we fear evil. Yes we did. I was so afraid for Jordan in the chilly weather. I was afraid for me, afraid for my husband. He was more worried than I was as he was assuming full responsibility for what had happened that night. Forgetting our cell phone in Anne and Daniel's home, forgetting to keep the gas tank full. He started praying and then we finally notice "GAS" on EXIT 47 to ALMAVILLE..
We take the EXIT and to our surprise it was so dark, no lights in sight, no stores open and no one on the streets. Not even a car or lights from a home.
We finally spot a little Light Beer sign on a store. It appeared like a GAS STATION. We stopped there. My husband left me in the car alone with Jordan as he stepped out of the car to see if there was anyone in the store.

To our surprise, there was not a soul in sight! I gasped again in fear helplessly and asked the Lord for grace to endure this.
I was afraid for Jordan and for us. Unknown fear gripped my heart. I was thinking of calling our dear friends, Brent and Julie. But How??? We did not have a phone on us, no public phones as I would find in Toronto, Canada.

What do we do now? Gas tank empty, cold weather outside, snow on the road, no warm blankets for Jordan and fear in my heart. I could not imagine what was going on in my husband's mind. All I knew at that point was to totally surrender ourselves to God.

Myself and John started praying. God makes a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways you cannot fathom. The next thing we know was the road was downhill. We ofcourse did not need that much gas to drive the car downhill.
We were driving endlessly following our GPS. It took us to a dead end with just a RIGHT OR A LEFT TURN. Now the choice was ours to make! Do we turn left or Right?
" Lord, please show us the way" We decided to turn left and then noticed that the tank was empty totally at this point.
We do not even know how far the Nolensville Road is. We kept driving as we were praying loudly in the car. Asking God to forgive us for not checking on gas, cell phone inspite of us having our little daughter with us.

It was our fault totally for not being careful for assuming that the gas would be enough to take us home.
Many times we assume things and fall into deep trouble.

The gas tank was empty. As my husband was driving, I kept looking at the "E" symbol on the gas tank. " Lord, what do we do now?"

To our surprise, the needle went a little above the "E" We were dumbstruck! Amazed at how this could happen.

We drove and then finally see the Road that said "Nolensville Road"
The decision was ours to make again! Do we turn RIGHT OR LEFT?
God said "LEFT" and we turned left. We drove about a mile and then to our surprise we see the main intersection of Nolensville Road and Highway 96.

Our car makes a sudden halt right in front of a GAS station on Hwy 96!

No more gas in the car. My husband and I started crying and weeping in relief thinking about how great our God is.
We hugged Jordie and cried and promised her that night that we will be well prepared for any travel.

God helped us inspite of our mistake that night. Our God guided us inspite of our failure to be the parents we are supposed to be. God lead us in the right path. God showed us which way to steer the car.

Awesome God indeed!

We filled our Gas tank and then headed Hwy 96 towards Franklin Road and then Home.

We came home at 2:30AM in the morning.

That, my friends was torture! We have learnt a great lesson that night.

That night I realised that yes, Yea though we walk through the valley of shadow of death, we will fear no evil. Its only because the Lord Almighty is watching over us.
If he parted the Red Sea then, don't you think He will part it now?
If he was a pillar of light then, don't you think He will be the same now?
He is never changing! Ever present help in times of trouble.

We have experienced Him, are you willing to experience Him today?

Which EXIT 47 are you at? Are you lost somewhere not knowing how to get out? Are you struck deep in a sin that you are not knowing how to get out?

Ask Him this day! Seek Him right now for help. He will show you the way out just like He did to us.

We love you and we miss you all so much.

Please pray for our quick return back to the US soon.

We miss you all so very much


Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,

TEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF MARRIAGE

TEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES of MARRIAGE

This article will deal with the reasons our marriages work and sometimes do not work. We'll have a frank and honest discussion about marriage from a Biblical standpoint. You might want to forgive me now for what I am about to write. It may address issues in your own marriage relationship. My hope is that this article will stimulate discussion with your spouse and be an encouragement to you.

Think back for a moment and consider the training and teaching you received in preparation for marriage. If you were like most, you will agree that there was no formal training. That is, you didn't go to college or a technical school to be trained and certified as a husband or wife. There is no diploma or certification that qualified us to be married. However, of all the choices we make in our life time, the selection of our spouse and decisions we make on how to be a husband or wife, are the most profound and have the most far-reaching implications. Children (other people) will come from those decisions and the process continues from generation to generation. In fact, we exist today because of decisions made by our parents. This brings me to my initial point about the subject of marriage. Our parents have had a profound impact on us with regard to marriage. It was our parents that served as our primary teachers in preparing us for marriage. Just like any training course, the quality of that training has a direct impact on the success or failure of the endeavor.

But our parents are not the only resource to prepare us for marriage. The Bible has a lot to say about marriage. In fact, the very institution of marriage originates from the Bible. Our parents and basic Biblical instruction about marriage are our primary sources of reference for marriage. But have you considered the teaching we have concerning marriage given in the Bible? Let me explain a bit more. Since our parents are our primary examples, have you considered what our parents in the Bible teach us about marriage? Which parents am I referring to? Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and his wives, Leah and Rachel, have a lot to teach us about marriage!

TEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES of MARRIAGE
How we approach marriage, more importantly, how we fulfill it, is extremely important to our own welfare and homes. It will either yield great joy and fulfillment or heartache and disappointment. The Biblical principles we will review are general in statement.

Depending on one's station in life, there can be exceptions. Some people remain single and never marry. Therefore, these Biblical principles serve as a base definition for the subject of marriage.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 1.

Man needs a Wife.

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. – Genesis 2: 18

It has clearly been proven that men live longer and are healthier as a result of marriage. Companionship is a key component to marriage. To have the same companion from youth to old age is true friendship and love. The word “helper” is really “help meet.” A “help meet” is much more than a mere helper. “Help meet” means companion; it means she is there until the job is finished. Help meet also has a strong spiritual tone. A wife helps the man to meet the Lord. A wife will either multiply your ministry in the Lord, or take you right out of it. Don't even think about going into the ministry full time if your wife is not right there with you serving the Lord. There is not a spiritual man alive today, when he is about to be marooned on a deserted island for many years, and must make a choice between having his Bible or his wife with him... he'll trust his memory for the Scripture, but he wants his wife with him. He needs his wife with him.

10: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12: She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. -- Proverbs 31

Consider this for moment, how frequently do you see real rubies, diamonds, emeralds or pearls. The Bible says that an excellent wife is more rare than jewels. Husbands may not be experts about precious gems, but they can discern a wife more rare than jewels. He knows what trusting in her means and how he will be safe with her the rest of his life. He knows that her great value is not about gain or investment. He knows that she is priceless and can never be replaced.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 2.

Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman, initiated by the exchange of vows.

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

Marriage is not a partnership or a contract; it is considerably more than that. Marriage is a covenant. Partnerships and contracts are agreements of “consideration given for consideration received.” These kinds of agreements are formed by requests and promises. One party requests something and offers something in exchange. The other party trades one item of value for another item of value. A covenant is not made primarily to gain value nor to exchange one thing for another. It is not maintained by both parties meeting their obligations; it is a reality of giving ones self regardless of the return value. A covenant is of undetermined length. It is forever or until it can no longer be done, “Until death do us part.” This covenant causes names to change. This covenant changes the place called “home.” A marriage covenant establishes a preference in relationship greater than parent and child. A marriage covenant creates a new reality that the whole of creation accepts, including the Creator.

This is why a divorce is more than breaking a contract. A divorce rips the very fabric of the soul when the marriage covenant is broken. A broken vow, an oath that is breached, or a pledge not fulfilled is an internal dilemma reaching deep into the person that no soothing balm can reach. A broken contract can be solved by paying for the damages, but the damage of a broken covenant continues long after.

Some men and women never quite leave their father and mother when they get married. Consequently, they have not chosen their spouse above all others. In truth of fact, they never made the proper marriage covenant from the beginning and results become inevitable. Many pre-marriage counselors will recommend that a new couple live separately and away from both sets of parents to guarantee that the proper bond (cleaving) is established in the marriage.

Becoming “one flesh” is the consummation of the verbal vows, but it is not a replacement for them. Becoming “one flesh” before the vows of marriage is fornication and distorts the entire pattern and purpose of intimacy in the marriage.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 3.

The Husband is the head of the house and responsible for the marriage.

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. -- Genesis 3: 16

This verse is probably hated by more women than any other verse in the Bible. The spirit of rebellion will not sit idly by in the heart of a woman when she hears the words, “he shall rule over you.” To a woman, these words confront her unbelief and mistrust in her husband. From a counselor's point of view, it is evidence of not loving her husband. Love believes all things.

True mature leaders know that the authority to rule comes after full responsibility has been accepted. True authority is given by those who are under the rule. Demanding authority over another or exercising that authority to prove its existence is a leader on the path to failure. A wife's desire for her husband will naturally result in her giving him authority over her, because she believes he has taken full responsibility for her.

During the courtship phase of a marriage relationship, the man pursues his prospective wife. It's a little like a game. Actually, he chases her until he gets caught!

What was done in courtship should not end at the wedding. The marriage should continue with the man initiating and the woman completing. Should correction be needed or should something need to be started it is the husband's responsibility and duty to start the actions.

Does this mean that the man is to blame when something goes wrong? Is it the husband's fault if the marriage fails? No. Taking responsibility is not concerned with or interested in finding fault and placing blame. Taking responsibility is focused on improvement and correction – doing it better. Blame and fault are subjects of immaturity.

The husband lets his wife know that she can make a mistake and not be blamed or made to be guilty. Her desire is for her husband to have rule over her and to bring about solutions.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 4.

The Husband is commanded by God to love his wife.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy [ ἅγιος hagios hag'-ee-os From ἅγος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint. ] and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.-- Ephesians 5: 25-32

Love in a marriage seems as natural as breathing for the wife. But for the husband, love in the marriage is a determined act of his will. Yes, love is an emotion; yet, for many men in the earlier years of the relationship, it is the “love of the chase.” This is why some men never grow up and keep chasing other women after being married. God's command for a man to love his wife is more than an emotion, a feeling, or a game. It is a determined act whereby he must direct his energies for the specific purpose to provide for, to protect, and to be passionate toward his wife.

Some men provide well and are willing to lay down their lives to protect. This is sacrificial love. However, they regard conjugal sex as one of the benefits for having done the first two. Little do they know that God commands them also to be a passionate, intimate husband. It is part of God's plan for the husband to “love” his wife. There is not a wife who doesn't want her husband to desire her for being a woman. This is where the game is carried on into the marriage. She wants to be pursued and desired before she catches him. The husband must learn to keep chasing his wife, even though he is caught.

Fundamentally, the number one need of a wife in a marriage is love. The husband is commanded to meet this need. By loving his wife, he provides her a home, the resources to live, and a safe and secure place for her and the children. By loving her emotionally, he assures and comforts her, shielding her from fear and harm. By loving her physically, he proves that his attentions and focus are on her and she is secure in his desires.

The commandment to love his wife means that the husband is to commit his energy, resources, creativity, and attention, and to focus on his wife. It is more than just provision and protection. Loving a wife means preferring her above ALL others.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 5.

The Wife is commanded by God to respect her husband.

Wives, submit [ ὑποτάσσω hupotassō hoop-ot-as'-so From G5259 and G5021; to subordinate; reflexively to obey: - be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto.] yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.-- Ephesians 5: 22-24

Too often, Biblical teachers have equated “be subject” with “obey.” As a consequence, opposition has grown in the American culture to the extent that many women refuse to say “love, honor, and obey” in the traditional wedding vows. It is really a huge mistake. The word “obey” is not the proper emphasis for “being subject to” or “submission” as translated in the commandment.

Let me offer an entirely new perspective. Instead of the word “obey” amplifying the phrase “be subject to” or the word “submit,” let's use the word “respect.” Now let's restate the commandment. Wives, respect your husband, just as you respect the Lord. That changes something dramatically. Instead of the ultimatum to obey (like a lowly slave), respect opens the door to balance and understanding. Respect is something given in measure to being respectable. Respect is in parallel with love and honor. Obedience does not require love or honor; however, respect does require them.

The number one complaint of distraught wives is that they don't respect their husbands. It is very difficult for them to do so when the husband continues to do things not worthy of respect. A husband who does not provide, protect, or show passionate love for his wife is on thin ice for respectability. But oft times, the man does provide and protect, he is faithful and desires his wife. However, his wife treats him in a very disrespectful manner simply because he is a man. Wives who do this should think back to how their mother treated their father. You will discover that many times this is a pattern and it is learned behavior.

This is why God commands wives to respect their husbands. Wives must make a determined decision to accomplish this. It takes energy and a clear will to do so. Instead of holding your husband to an artificial standard of respect (he does everything I want him to do), a wife should come to know her husband for the true goodness that is in him.

Fundamentally, the number one need of a man in a marriage is respect. The wife is commanded to meet this need. The commandment to respect your husband means praising your husband, both to him and to others, and submitting to his leadership, guidance, and judgment. Even if he makes a mistake and is wrong. He will learn.

This is how men learn every day at their jobs. A wife who believes she needs to teach her husband by correcting him only succeeds in embarrassing him. When a wife disrespects her husband with critical words, treats him with disdain, and holds him in contempt, she destroys her primary source of provision and protection from God. She also breaks Gods commandment to respect him. When a wife learns how to respect (be subject to, submit, and obey) her husband, he'll treat her like a thoroughbred, instead of a nag.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 6.

The Husband and Wife are joint heirs to life.

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. -- Genesis 2: 22

To have children, it requires a man and woman joining together to procreate. A man can not do it alone nor can a woman do it alone. They jointly form the product of each new child. Woman was not made from the dust of the earth like man; therefore, she should not be treated as dirt. Woman did not fly down from heaven; therefore, she should not be over anyone's head. She was taken from her husband's side; therefore, her rightful place is at his side.

The woman's need for security can only be met fully by her husband. The husband's need for respect can only be met fully by his wife. When both needs are being met, the marriage is like the wedding ring. It is made of precious metal and valuable gems; it goes round and round, with no beginning and no end. Life is good and wonderful. When one of the needs (either security or respect) is not being met, the ring is broken. There is now a clear beginning and end to the ring. The ring has become a piece of twisted metal. The passion of love becomes the passion of anger and hate. It leads to treachery. The remaining metal of the ring becomes a bad memory and is pawned for a fraction of its cost. However, the treachery and hate can last long after the divorce. When both needs are met, the home is a pleasant place for all.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. -- Psalms 128: 3

To be a joint heir means to share in the same heritage and inheritance. Husbands and wives come from different houses, but when they are joined together, they are part of the same house with the same Heavenly Father. When the woman was taken out of the man (the rib), it indicated that they were together when man was first created. Marriage is reuniting the man and woman together as they were in the beginning. This is marriage based on spiritual understandings.

There is a fundamental difference between a secular and spiritual marriage. A secular marriage is a shared proposition. It's a mutually agreeable contract. Sometimes, these marriages stay together simply because they don't have any other choice. The spiritual point of view for marriage is one that embraces the author of marriage. It is one where both the husband and the wife are under the authority of God. But the bottom line is this: a spiritual marriage is where the husband and wife know they were destined for each other. They also share in the same problems and joys of life. They make their “choice” for each other believing it is God's will.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 7

A Wife is God’s grace to the Husband.

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. -- Proverbs 18: 22

The favor mentioned here is unmerited favor or grace from God. That means that men don't deserve all the good they receive from their wives. This is simply a truth that wise men come to learn. Even more so, when a wife truly understands that she was presented by the Lord for her husband, she develops wisdom.

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the LORD. -- Proverbs 19: 14

The most important and vital things of life come from the Lord. When a man finally becomes smart enough to actually stop and smell the roses, he will do so after getting a dozen of them for his wife. The more times he stops to smell the roses, the smarter he will get.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 8.

The Wife is the most powerful influence over her Husband.

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. -- Genesis 3: 12

Adam was more persuaded to seek the pleasure of his wife than to seek the pleasure of God. A Godly man must learn quickly how powerful his wife is over him with her charms and tears. A Godly wife must learn quickly not to misuse and harm her husband in trying to get what she wants.

Allow me to share a word picture that illustrates this point. A husband is like the captain of a sailing ship. He directs his resources and uses skill to raise and lower his sails, he sets a course for distant ports, and he determines what cargo he will carry or trade.

But his wife is the wind in his sails. Carry this picture out a little further. His wife can be unsupportive and very still. No matter how many sails he unfurls, nor how great his mast might be, no wind means he just sits and floats. If his wife is stormy and objectionable, the ship is in a storm with sails torn and masts broken. Many ships are lost at sea because of the hurricane that rose up. But a steady ship in a steady breeze can sail on a great adventure.

Simply said, a husband is the captain of his ship, but his wife is the wind in his sails. It doesn't take much of a breeze for the ship to move. I can assure you that if a wife just blows in her husband's ear, his sails will catch that breeze.

Some wives think that the best way to “help” the captain is by grabbing the ships wheel and setting the course they want. This is really mutiny and results in the ship going in circles. My counsel is in line with my word picture. If the wife really wants to have the ship sail a particular way, then give him a favorable breeze in that direction. He'll sail that way and will look for breezes that ultimately lead him to his destination, too. The greatest joy that a captain can feel is to be one with the wind; in this instance his wife.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. -- Proverbs 12:4

The greatest harm that can be done to any man is done by his wife. Men can insult men over and over; it just makes them mad and they get “tougher.” When a wife shames her husband, she skewers his heart and vital organs. The barbeque is not pretty.

Most wives are not trying to shame or embarrass their husbands. They are trying to motivate and stimulate their husbands, who seem unresponsive to them. The mistake of embarrassment is really unintentional; it just happens. It happens because wives have twisted a major Biblical instruction. Wives (mothers) are to teach their children and serve their husbands. Too often, wives serve their children and attempt to teach their husbands.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 9.

Marriage is a sexually intimate and passionate relationship.

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. -- Genesis 2: 25

Before we address this Biblical truth about marriage, some spouses avoid this topic altogether and do not discuss intimacy and passion with anyone (including their spouses). With all due respect to everyone's privacy, please skip to the next section if this topic offends you.

Please continue reading to understand what the Bible has to say about passion, which is different from lust.

“Until the day comes that you are totally ravished with your wife, you have not fallen in love with her. Until the day comes that you can not even imagine how another woman could satisfy you like your wife does, you have not yet obeyed the commandment to love your wife like the Lord loves us all.”

18: Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
19: Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. -- Proverbs 5: 18-19

There is a world of difference between lust and passion. Lust is sin and a loss of self-control; passion is a fire that forms the very metal of marriage.

Men are highly visual and imaginative creatures when it comes to sex. They perceive a direct link in their sexual energy with the very energy of life.

Wives like to have sex in marriage also, but not like a man. Wives view marital sex differently. What wives really want in marital sex is romance and passion.

Notice that the Bible has its own dramatic way of illustrating marital romance and passion. First the man leads and the wife responds.

6: How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
7: This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
8: I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;
9: And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
10: I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. -- Song of Solomon 7: 6-10

A Biblical marriage is a sexually intimate and passionate relationship. The satisfaction, fulfillment, joy and pleasure are part of God's plan for the marriage. You don't have to be an expert at the very beginning of the marriage. Many believe that the very learning experience of sexual intimacy is part of the lifetime of joy in marriage. Marital sexuality is a life-changing-experience and part of the changing-of-life-experience.

In today’s crumbling marriages, many husbands begin looking elsewhere due to a lack of frequent sex, while wives are looking for new excitement. She wants what she can not have.

And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, and she took of its fruit and ate.-- GENESIS 3:6

And Aḏam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, fell into transgression. -- 1 TIMOTHY 2:14

The factor fueling this trend is that many if not most couples in this situation had intimate relationships prior to marriage with other partners during the unscriptural dating process, causing improper comparisons which detract from a husband and wife becoming one, and in particular this involves the wife. A part of ones self is given away in these situations which brings an incompleteness to the marriage.

When it comes to marriage, women generally believe that men are the “choosers,” while they are the ones waiting to be chosen. This makes them more inclined to go after men who are unattainable or unavailable, so they can remain excited for an indefinite period of time. Overall, society promotes the notion that women want to get married and men just want to fool around. Women are encouraged to find men who are sensitive and faithful and many are succeeding. To get what they think they want from men, women assume a lot of work is required. These beliefs have developed into an exciting and challenging game for women—trying to get men to fall in love with, or marry, them. Striving for something or looking forward to it causes a stimulant effect in the brain. The problem is, once a woman realizes that she has found and attained what she was looking for she may become bored. Females want the excitement to last, and for them it does last—until after they have a commitment. However, once they accomplish their goal, the feeling of excitement goes away, which is very disappointing because the excitement was what they wanted and they thought it would last.
Pheylethylamine (a natural amphetamine released when lust or passion take over our moods and during physical intimacy) found in the brain, is responsible for raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate, producing a pleasant feeling and a sense of well being. According to science one can expect the infatuation stage to last anywhere from between three and six months. Like any drug, the high doesn't last forever. This also explains shorter-term adulterous relationships - the three month awakening in which one comes to their senses and realises that they are not only no longer infatuated, and don't actually want to be either. Eventually, women begin to associate sex with work. That’s how the brain operates. When you bought your first house, for example, you probably went out and purchased a new lawn mower. You probably couldn’t wait to mow the lawn. But let’s face it, after awhile you began to associate the lawn mower with work. It’s the same thing with women and sex. Over time, many females lose their desire to have sex with their husbands and start having those “I’m not happy feelings”. They are looking for the feeling of excitement again. That is when they usually change partners. They wander off to seek that same chemical rush with someone else.

You can not separate sex from love in a marriage. The argument by an adulterous spouse that it was just sex (lust), but “I really love you” is a totally flawed argument. It simply is not true. Sex and love in marriage are inseparable.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE of MARRIAGE # 10.

Marriage is the mystery of the Messiah’s relationship with us.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. -- Ephesians 5: 32

There have been a world full of poets and philosophers explaining love and marriage to us. But this mystery described in the Bible far surpasses them all. If you will ask any married person why they put up with their spouses’ mistakes and quirks, they will give the same answer regardless of gender. “Because, I love him (her).” It is because love covers a multitude of sins. This is the same simple answer for why God continues to deal with us. He loves us, and His love covers the multitude of our sins.

Lessons from our Biblical fathers and mothers…

What Abraham and Sarah Teach Us about Marriage

There is one incident in the marriage of Abraham and Sarah (then called Abram and Sarai) that the Bible mysteriously inserts. It concerns a trip to Egypt and an encounter with Pharaoh.

11: And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
13: Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
14: And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15: The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16: And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
17: And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18: And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
19: Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
20: And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. -- Genesis 12

So, what is this story doing in the Bible? What is the purpose of this story?

Never, under any circumstances [even if you think you are in mortal danger], never treat your wife like she is your sister! She Is NOT Your Sister. SHE IS YOUR WIFE ! Do not do anything with your wife like she is your sister (even spiritually). Treat your sister nice; but, treat your wife like she is your wife!

Lessons from our Biblical fathers and mothers…

What Isaac and Rebekah Teach Us about Marriage

To demonstrate how powerful our fathers and mothers are in teaching us behaviors as husbands and wives, Isaac made this exact mistake with Rebekah when they visited king Abimelek.

7: And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
8: And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9: And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. -- Genesis 26

You don't have to worry about Pharaoh or Abimelek giving you trouble. It is your wife who will have a problem with you.

Before we leave this Scripture let's make sure that we have a clear understanding about something. Isaac was more than “caressing” his wife. You can caress your sister, but “caressing” here is considerably more. The King James Version Bible uses the word “sporting.” Isaac wasn't playing tennis either. The actual Hebrew word means a combination of things: laughter, playing, entertaining with desire.

Actually, Isaac and Rebekah teach us something very powerful about marriage in how they first met and married. If you will recall, Eliezer, the servant of Abraham was dispatched to get Isaac a wife from the region where Abraham himself came. Eliezer found Rebekah with her brother Laban on that trip and brought Rebekah back. Then the Scripture says one of the most profound things that can be found on the subject of marriage.

Just as Eliezer and Rebekah returned, Rebekah put on a veil to meet Isaac (she was not wearing a veil earlier). The Scripture continues.

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. -- Genesis 24: 67

Wait a minute. Look at the sequence again. He took her, he married her, he loved her, and he was comforted by her. That's backwards! Don't we first meet someone, feel comfortable with them, even friendly? Then we fall in love, get married, and the last thing we do is take her.

But the Scripture says Isaac did the opposite. What is this all about? And why did the Scripture state that Rebekah put on a veil just before this? What does the veil have to do with marriage?

The Scripture has actually shown us how men approach marriage and how women approach marriage, and how they are different.

Ladies, this is a truth. Let my words serve as confirmation. Men approach marriage from the idea of sex and physical attraction first. Men go through the courtship, the ceremony, and the tuxedo, so they can have sex with the woman. About six months after they get married, they wake up one morning, see their wife laying there and it hits them. “What have I done!?! I'm married!!??!” That's when they actually get married. Then... they make up their minds to truly love their wives some time after that. It could be several years before they really “get it” on that concept. Then, they understand that their wife is better than their mother.

Wives on the other hand see marriage the other way. First, they are comforted, they fall in love, they put on a veil for marriage, get married, and then have sex last. Modesty and discretion are the hallmarks of her relationship. The veil is the symbol of her modesty at the wedding.

As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. -- Proverbs 11: 22

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. -- Proverbs 31: 30

Let me illustrate how succinctly this process works in the mind of a man and differently in a woman. The subject is “fantasy.” When a man fantasizes about a woman, it is about sex and how he takes her. When a woman fantasizes about a man, it is about how safe she feels with him, how he holds her and makes her feel comfortable. It's about being friends and maybe him telling her how he loves her by presenting her with some flowers. Men and women think differently on this subject.

This brings me to one of the most important things about marriage that men and women need to know and understand. Gentlemen! Women do the opposite of what you think should be done many times. A man will count to 10 beginning with 1 and sequentially progress to 10. A woman will get to 10 but will do it a different way, sometimes different every time. For example, a woman will count to ten as follows: 3, 7, 5, 1, 2, 8, 9, 6, 4, and 10. Men get very confused with this process. It, however, makes perfect sense to a woman (and other women will agree with her).

I want to offer some real caution here to all husbands. Don't make a big deal out of the different way women count to 10. Remember we men are the ones who put sex in front of everything, right? And, we want it that way, right? We would be wise to just leave things the way they are. Actually, it really does work out for the best. Remember, how Isaac met Rebekah? He took her, he married her, he loved her, and he was comforted? Let the husband pursue the process from the take side and let the wife pursue it from the comfort side. As a result, they will both end up with the two middle ingredients together – love and marriage.

Lessons from our Biblical fathers and mothers…

What Jacob and his Wives Teach Us about Marriage

The closest example you are going to find in the Bible of a man with multiple wives is Jacob and his wives Leah and Rachel. One thing can be concluded from the entire experience: if you want conflict in your life, then have multiple spouses. If you want any chance of peace in your house, then stick with one spouse.

But there is something else that Jacob had in his marriage that comes out in Scripture in a unique way. Have you ever considered how Jacob fulfilled his duties as husband of multiple wives? In particular, did they live in one big happy tent, or was there a designated place where intimacy was done? This question is worthy of an answer because it has one of the most important points concerning a happy home and marriage.

The fact is that each wife had her own tent. Jacob would go into which ever tent he chose or was told to go to, but something else would go with him. Jacob had a couch. Actually, it was really his bed. It was where he performed his husbandly duties with his wife.

One of the most important lessons for a happy home that a husband can learn is that the house (the tent) belongs to the wife. Let her decorate it how she wants. Let her decide where the furniture goes. It is her nest. Let her get as comfortable as she wants there. It is part of her security. Don't mess with the interior of the house; it's hers. But there is one thing in the house that is yours. It is your bed. (It's Jacob's couch.)

Ladies, this is a profound Biblical truth. When you get into your husband's bed, you are in your marriage bed. He is not sleeping with his sister. You are his wife. Therefore, you should not be surprised that your husband's desire is for you. He, as your husband, is obeying the Lord directing all of his desire to you. Do not disrespect him nor discourage him in obeying the Lord.

The Bible is very clear using the word translated as “couch.” The Hebrew word for couch when broken down to its individual letters means: where the eye and hand are joined together in desire. This was the reason that Jacob was so angry with his son, Reuben, when he went in and lay with Leah's handmaid, Zilpah, the mother of Gad and Asher. Jacob expressed his anger at Reuben's blessing.

3: Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
-- Genesis 49

The couch (the marriage bed) of the husband is to be shared by the wife, and this is what is expressed again in the Song of Solomon.

Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. -- Canticles 1: 16

If a husband can learn to provide a home for his wife in which she feels secure and the wife can enter her husband's bed respecting him, then they will enjoy the full benefits of a loving marriage. They will produce children that are a joy and have a happy home.

Lessons from our Biblical fathers and mothers…

What Our Heavenly Father Teaches Us about Marriage

The Bible has much to say about marriage and our parents are responsible for most of our teaching to be good husbands and wives. However, there is one last lesson about marriage that is taught by our Heavenly Father. It is the most profound of them all.

The best thing we can do to improve our marriages or to better prepare for marriage is to develop the ability to understand our spouse. We need to dwell with understanding.

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman -- Proverbs 7: 4

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. -- Proverbs 9: 10

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established -- Proverbs 24:3

Being wise and knowledgeable are good things but developing the ability to understand, especially to understand your spouse, is consistent with being intimate, knowing God, and having a well established house called a home.

Whom should I send, who will go for us?

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us? I said "Here I am, Send me."
This week has indeed been a very stressful week for us. Inspite of all that, One thing that God has been reminding me this week was about his unfailing love and his faithfulness towards us. Our God never fails us and whatever he does he does has a purpose. The way I see struggles is that God is only adding another page in your book so that you can look back and use that page of struggles for a testimony someday to someone to be encouraged, touched and re-dedicate their lives back to Him.

This week a friend of ours was going to go to my home country to speak at an annual revival. We applied for his visa few weeks ago and he did not get it for a long time.
He is scheduled to fly out tomorrow but there is no sight of the passport and visa. Two days in a row have been so hard trusting and believing and not becoming anxious about the situation.

Flights purchased no documents to travel. I get on the phone with Beckie Johnson, I call her the majic Johnson and she within minutes got on the phone and organized a person to go the the Consulate to pick up the Passport and the visa and then FEDEX it overnight so that the Pastor will have the documents for travel by 10AM tomorrow.

This man, I know is the most available man in the eyes of Jesus. He is not a rich man, not having a lot of money but just a big heart for Jesus. Whom shall I send? Who will go?
Here is the man:Mr.Scott Livingston who just had a bicycle to go to the Consulate and get the Pastors passport. Guess what ?!! It was snowing heavily in Washington D.C.
He never said that he does not have the resources to do the task. He just did it.

He did not have a car with warm heating and leather seats to go and pick up the package. He rode his bike in the snow to pick up the package.

He calls me at 6:30PM and informed me that he does have the passport in his hands.
I got so emotional about the whole deal. It was so hard for me to fathom the Lord's doings in our lives. He allows circumstances in our lives to get all glory to Him alone.

I said "Scott, every soul that is won for Jesus you have a 100% part in it because you were so obedient to God's call on your life to do this unacheiveable task. We made so many calls. All we would receive is their voice mails.
God is an ontime God. He moves the mountains for us. We wonder why it has to be so hard to get documents on time. But God taught us a great deal to just remain calm and not anxious but to commit everything to the Lord in prayer.

My friend Julie said "Zion, if God granted the visa ontime, he will make the documents arrive just on time for the preacher's travel.
Scott, ethe FEDEX tracking number soon after we spoke to each other. When there is so much opposition and hurdles it is because a great harvest is at hand.
How many of us have a part in this harvest that the Lord is about to bring.
God has blessed you with everything, yet you hold onto things that are perishable, so strongly in your hands. You dont want to let go. Let go of these things and see how much blessing you will receive.
My prayer is that this obedient Scott who taught me an amazing lesson today of sacrifice, humility, obedience and love to reach to India in whatever way he can to be a part of a great revival must have a car by next year.
Pray for this humble man and his dear wife and their two children. I dont know how the Lord will bless him but he surely will bless SCOTT LIVINGSTON.
Scott, thank you so much for your quick effort in doing this for Jesus.
He rode his bike in the snow to the consulate to accomplish this task which no one else could have done.
Is God calling you to serve him full time? Are you worried about it, about feeding your family, about being there for them financially? I can witness today that if you are faithful, He remains faithful to us.
Would you do what Scott did for Jesus today? Maybe you are holding onto to so many things including yourself to go on to the Missions field for Jesus.
Whom shall I SEND? Who will go?
A man on a bicycle, in heavy snow, riding to obtain travel documents for a preacher to preach his heart out to the millions that will end up in hell for eternity.
What is your part in the Mission field that God has laid on your heart?
Just do it friends.. Beckie Johnson just said to Scott: "Scott when we get to heaven, I will introduce you all the souls that have accepted Jesus because you have done this great sacrifice of riding your bike in the snow to get the documents for a preacher to travel to India to win souls for Jesus!"

Amazing STORY indeed. An American on a bike in heavy snow preparing a preacher for India trip.

I am sure you all want to know how many souls were saved! Thousands of people accepted the Lord, recomitted their lives and 33 people were baptized. This was the largest number that were baptized same day as a result of these crusades.

Our Shelter Home

Psalms 91:1
Those who live in the shelter of Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty

What is a shelter? Shelter is a place of refuge, a place of rest, a place where we run to when there is no where else to hide from fear of death and fear of danger.

In real life when we go to shelter homes to escape from danger, we are safe physically but are we safe emotionally and mentally? We can escape from physical harm but we cannot escape from mental and emotional damage. When we live in the shelter of the Most High, we will find rest.

The biggest pandemic right now is fear. Fear has gripped the heart of many these days. It did not start post covid but it has been there for a very long time. That is the reason the Lord gave us scriptures in the Bible about fear. I know what it feels like to be afraid. Afraid of a mere human being, afraid of people around me, afraid of the schemes of the enemy, afraid of myself, afraid of false preachers, afraid of people who are deceptive and afraid of people who might use me and abuse me. Fear is the biggest pandemic. 

How do we overcome this fear? Some people are diagnosed with panic disorders, some undiagnosed, some are not aware as to why their mind races at a million miles an hour. How do you stop these racing thoughts, the racing heartbeat when you are in a fearful situation?

I wish there is a solution to this debilitating disease called fear and in a very medically apt way it is called anxiety. There is a scripture in the Bible that says : Do not be anxious. It is a commandment from the Lord. Do not be ( It is a continuous tense) a present situation of being in the constant state of fear and anxiety, So what must be do if the Lord tells us not to be anxious? What then should we do? The next line says but pray for everything and present your supplications to the Lord with thanksgiving.

How can I present my supplication of defeat in life with thanksgiving?  How can I be thankful to the Lord for my present situation? It is very hard but we must simply do it because it is a commandment. I always wondered why in the ten commandments God did not give a commandment not to fear. His very first commandment is to not have any other gods before Him. Whenever we see "gods" with a small "g" it means anything other than the YAHWEH GOD! We cannot have anything that we worship more than him in our lives. It could be our job, our family, children, job, ministry, so on.

When we keep ourselves ahead of God, then we are gripped with unnecessary thoughts. Thoughts like fear, and playing our what if scenarios in our minds which do not take us anywhere in our life.

I, therefore want to dwell in the shelter of the Most High will find rest under the shadow of the Almighty.

The question for us tonight is do you want to live and dwell in the shelter of the Most High God or do you want to dwell in the shelter of the gods of this world and have restlessness?

I want to dwell in  a place where I feel safe and secure and not afraid and anxious.

Because He tells me to do it, I will not fear. I will not be dismayed or discouraged. I will be at peace because I am living in the shelter of the Most High God.

Stay in his shelter, dwell in his presence and find rest.

Stay Blessed!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

The cry of the Creator

Jeremiah 4:14
O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart that you may be saved. How long will you harbor your evil thoughts?

The book of Jeremiah is one of the most powerful books in the Bible with 52 Chapters.
I love the name "Jeremiah" not only because it is a powerful book but also because my long awaited nephew is named after the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet to Judah. He faithfully confronted the leaders and the people with their sin. After surviving the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah was forcefully taken to Egypt. The word Egypt brings back memories of bondage, hard labor, plagues, the red sea and finally the redemption to the promised land.
Jeremiah remained faithful in spite of Jerusalem's destruction.
Years of obedience had made him strong and courageous. This is small introduction about the weeping prophet as well as his faithfulness and obedience to God.

Coming to the verse from Jeremiah 4:14
O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart -We can see in this verse the Lord is not referring to a particular person. He is telling to the whole of Jerusalem.
We can see the cry of the Lord the way he addresses Jerusalem by saying "O Jerusalem"
I want to personalize this and add my own name here : O Zion!
The cry of the creator ever since He breathed His pure breath into us is to live a life just like Him. In whole of creation, the Lord brought everything into existence just by saying a word- Let there be________ and it came into being. The Creator did not say -Let there be man. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. The creation of man was a combined effort by the triune God. "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness".
God took the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7)  The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became living being.
The word of His mouth did not create us. He had to take his precious hands to pick dust from the ground that he already created to create you and me and then he breathed life into us. He breathed His life into us- it is the breath of life. That is how man became a living being.
How marvellous are your works towards me O Lord! His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. It was a triune effort- the effort of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
The reason I am personalising this verse is because I am a unique masterpiece of His choice creation. When He breathed into me the breath of life, His plans for me were amazing.
But what did Adam and Eve do? They fell a trap for the enemy who came to kill, steal and destroy.
Adam and Eve's disobedience destroyed everything. The initial disobedience brought upon mankind a continuing effect of sin and death.

The word of God says that the wages of sin is death. What is sin? The transgression of law is sin and the wage or the pay for that disobedience or transgression is death.

In verse 14, God is pleading with Jerusalem to cleanse their hearts.
The reason God is pleading with us today to cleanse our hearts is so that we may be saved.Vs.14 How long will you harbor your evil thoughts? It is not the thoughts of our spouse, children, parents, siblings or our friends. It is a call to discard OUR evil thoughts.

I John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

If "we" confess "our" sins, he is faithful and just to forgive "us our sins" and to cleanse "us" from all wickedness.

Friends, let us therefore do an intimate introspection today to cleanse our hearts and discard our evil thoughts. The Lord wants us to do this so that we will be saved.
Isaiah 1:16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sights. Give up your evil ways.
The Bible is very personal and the Lord is very personally talking to each one of us today. Wash yourselves, get your sins, give up your evil ways.
Jeremiah 13:27 I have seen your adultery and lust, and your disgusting idol worship out in the fields and on the hills. What sorrow awaits you, Jerusalem! How long before you are pure?

How Long? The same God who questioned Adam and Eve hiding behind the trees he created saying " Where are you?" is asking you and me today "Where are you?"

He sees us in sin, he continues to persue us, run after us, and waits with open arms to come running into His arms just like the prodigal son.
The same creator who took the dust of the ground with his precious hands, died a brutal death. The hands that created us were not pierced then but they are now just to secure our eternity with Him.

Where are you? What are the idols you are worshiping in the fields and on the hills? What is it that you are in today that the Lords eyes are seeing you right this moment?
He sees our adultery, our lust, our lack of reverance just for him and him alone.

Who are you in relationship with that is causing disgrace to the creator who breathed the breath of life int us?

I chose to be faithful to him until my last breath on this earth.
This is the cry of the Creator today- to cleanse our hearts and discard our evil thoughts so that we may be saved.

Are you attentive to the cry of the creator today? Two Saturday's ago my eldest sister called me and informed that my younger sister's father in law was in a critical condition with abdominal aortic aneurysm. I was awake all night fearing to hear the worst news that he is gone. Next day my younger sister texted me saying " My father in law passed away"
My heart was so sad. I wept bitterly because uncle Paul was a sweetheart and a person that dearly loved me.
The next few hours my husband and I started planning to drive down to his funeral.
Friends, his funeral is over and hes burried deep in the dust of the ground from where he came. On our way home from the funeral I hear another news that one of my other dearest uncles passed away.
It was one blow after another. Why I write this is not to scare you but to prepare us that life is short. Death is certain. We all must die one day.
What next? Are you prepared to live with our creator for eternity?

If so, heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.

Two days ago, our oldest daughter Jordan asked me if she can get baptized. I asked her why and in her little words she said to me "Mom, I want to know how it feels to be cleansed by Jesus."

Do you want to know how it feels to be cleansed by Jesus? If so, accept Him today as the Lord of your life. Tomorrow is not promised. This very moment is yours.

Would you come to him right now and ask him to cleanse you today of all your unrighteousness and he will.
The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

Jesus took our wages of death and in turn He is promising us eternal life. Come to him now.

What is it that you need cleansing from? Let us introspect ourselves.

Who are you intertwined with? What are you thirsty for?

Matthew Chapter 7

Vs.16You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick up grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Vs.17: A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.Vs.18: A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.

Vs.19: So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Vs.20: Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions

I stand amazed at how Jesus loves trees so much. In the beginning when he created the heavens and the earth, one of his most precious creation was the land. In the book of Genesis 1:11 God said "Let the land sprout with vegetation-every sort of seed bearing plant, and trees that grow seed bearing fruit. These trees will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came. Vs: 12 says: Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. This was his THIRD DAY of creation.

It was God who, in the very beginning of creation, ordained that every tree should bear the fruit of its kind. No good tree will bear bad fruit and no bad tree will bear good fruit.

Jesus compares two types of fruits here: Figs and grapes. I am sure he loves these two fruits. Everywhere in the Bible He mentions about the fig tree and about the grapes,the vine and the branches.

John 15th Chapter. He even compares himself to the true grapevine. That is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.

Jesus tells us that grapes can never come of out of thornbushes and you cannot pick figs from thistles.

Apple juice can never come out of grapes and grape juice can never come out of apples.

Having studied my Agricultural Sciences, plants and their qualities always intrigued me.

A plant or a tree cannot come up on its own. You need to prepare the land first, for a seed to be sown. You just cannot sow seeds anywhere you like. We need to do something called Preparatory cultivation. We need to break all the soil, take out all weeds and unnecessary material from the soil and make it available for the seeds to be sown.

Once we do all that, then we need to make furrows and ridges and then sow the seeds. Once done, then you need to water them and after few days based on the quality of the seed, a little sapling comes out. If the seed is dormant, then you do not see any sapling coming out of it.

That is how important the quality of a seed is. A good seed will produce a good plant and vice versa. The cycle goes on and on. God ordained in the beginning that every tree will bear fruit of its own kind.

My parents cannot give birth to you or your parents give birth to me, right? They bore me and not you. I gave birth to my little Jordan, I cannot give birth to your child.

It is the same principle here in the Bible. Jesus compares us to a tree in the Bible and he clearly mentions that if we do not bear good fruit, then we will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Jesus does not just ask us to bear any fruit. We need to bear good fruit. People identify us by our actions. Our fruit is nothing but our own actions. When you identify yourself as a Christian, are you also identified by your actions? Or are you just identified as a hypocrite? Imagine my name is FIG and my actions are like thistles- so sharp and dry and of no use to anyone.

What good am I? I need to be cut off and cast into fire.

Friends, for us to bear good fruit, we need to be in a place that is fertile. A place that will enhance our multiplication. A tree cannot bear fruit without water and other essential nutrients.

I love the Psalms of King David. He is another lover of trees. Ofcourse! No wonder he was called the MAN AFTER GOD's own heart!

In the very first chapter of Psalms, he compares a Blessed man (who delights in the law of the Lord and who meditates on His law day and night) to that of a tree planted by the streams of water which bears its own fruit each season. The leaves never wither and whatever he does will prosper.

Many times, I live a life in which no matter what I do, I will not prosper. I am not preaching prosperity gospel here. I just want myself to be aware that I too, will be like the tree planted by the streams of water,bearing its fruit in its own season, with my leaves green and fresh, and with everything prosperous in my life when I delight in the Law of the Lord, when I meditate on His law day and night.

The Psalmist compares our soul to that of a DEER, and he compares water brooks to God.

Just as the Deer pants for water brooks, are our souls panting for God who so freely gives us living waters so that we will not thirst anymore?

Are the roots of our trees deeply rooted in Him and Him alone? Are they rooted into fertile soil( His word) ?

Are you prosperous(bearing good fruit in each season) or are you slowly withering away?

If you are not bearing good fruit, then sad will be your fate, my friend! You will be cast into fire for eternity.

Just because you are a tree you that does not mean you will bear fruit anyway. Just because that is your nature. You cannot bear fruit until and unless you are by the streams of water and until and unless you are close to the vine, you cannot bear fruit. You cannot be fruitful until you remain in Jesus (John 15: 4)

If you remain in Him, He will remain in you. You, my friend cannot do anything by being apart from God. You will be prosperous when you remain in Him and ask whatever you want, it will be granted to you. Whatever you do will prosper if you remain in Him. You need to remain in HIm and His words have to remain in you.

Friends, when things are going well, we feel elated. When hardships come, we sink into depression. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstances. Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ.

When our lives (branches) are intertwined with Him(The true Vine) He will help us walk through our depression, our failures and our adversities. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us level headed, no matter how high or low our circumstances are.

Therefore, we need to remain in our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to remain in His word, and we need to remain in His love. When we obey the LORD, His love remains in us and we will be filled with joy and your joy will overflow (John 15:11)

Finally, my friend- Be reminded that you did not chose God, God chose you and he appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit. Because His love remains in us, we need to love others, because He gives us joy that is overflowing, radiate that joy to others.

When you do what he wants you to do, then you will be prosperous. Ask whatever you want and he will give it to you just for His glory. (John 15: 16)

We need to love each other in the same manner Jesus loved us. He laid down his life for you. Imagine Jesus asked me to lay down my life for someone? It is so hard, isnt it?

All he is asking of you is to love others not to lay down your life for them. Friends, I know it is so hard to love someone who hurt you, someone who caused you pain. But we need to love them because Jesus loved us. Are you perfect? Are you pure? Are you holy? No we are not. I am not. I AM the greatest SINNER that ever lived on this planet. Just yesterday I finally could pray for someone who hurt me so badly even though those scars I still see to this day.

Isaiah 64:6 compares our righteousness to filthy rags. If our righteousness is like filthy rags, then what about our sins? Is there any other kind of rag it can be compared to?

How sad!! We look so lovely, so pure, so holy, so righteous to the world. How is Jesus viewing you today?

Would you like to rest in green meadows? do you love to be lead beside peaceful streams. I do. I want to sleep for a whole month undisturbed. I am so rest deprived after a long month of sadness by the loss of our second pregnancy and with the severe sickness of my little Jordan. I want to be lead to the green meadows and peaceful streams. My mum's friend: Auntie Beckie wanted us to come to her home to sleep while Jordan is resting. If she can offer me such warmth, what about my Father in heaven? Our shepherd knows very well that green meadows and peaceful streams will restore us. We will reach these places only by following him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd's leading is actually rebelling against our own best interests. Next time you are tempted to go on your own way, be reminded of the Shepherd's way.

Are you leaning on your own abilities to rescue you, your beauty to restore you and your broken marriage? Are you leaning on your achievements to aquire love and affection from the world?

If so you are headed the broad way of destrution the eternal fire.

Come back to Him, take an exit now. Confess your pride, your arrogance and your ignorance and come back and be intertwined with the Lord to bear good fruit.

I still struggle to be intertwined with Him my precious VINE!

Oh! How I miss him today.. I just want to be intertwined to my Jesus now and forever. When I am in Him, I forgive, I love, I care, I rejoice in my trials, in my losses, in my suffering, in my pain, I bear good fruit and I will not wither away.

Galatians 3:13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law, when he was hung the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree".

Jesus, my friends, was hung on a tree for you and me. He took our curse, he took our sin, our guilt, our shame, our sickness and he redeemed us from them all.

The first tree brought sin and chaos into this world. The tree of knowledge of Good and evil and the final tree- the cross of calvary brought redemption and peace to mankind (Taken from my Pastor's sermon notes)

Let us therefore intimately introspect our lives: Why are you away from Him? Are you in Him, his love and His word? Or are you wandering away from him and withering away without His help?

Come back and be intertwined with Jesus. Are you thirsty for name, fame, success, money, riches which are all temporary or are you thirsty for living waters which are eternal? Come to him and he will fill you up so that you will not thirst anymore.

Who are you intertwined with? What are you thirsty for?

We think our prayers are not answered, our needs are not met, our marriages are still broken, our bank accounts are still dry, our debts are unpaid, bills are piling up with no help in sight.

Friend,the word of God so clearly tells us that whatever we ask in His name will be granted to us, will be answered by our God provided we remain in Him, we remain in His love, we remain in His word. Are you remaining in Him?

The meaning for REMAIN is to continue to stay in the same state or condition or continue to stay behind while others withdraw or it is to endure or persist.

If your prayers are unanswered, if you are not having a break through is because you are not intertwined with your VINE- THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Quit complaining about Him and start remaining in Him, His word, and His love.

As you listen to the song as the deer panteth for water.. let us intimately introspect our lives today.

Be Blessed and be a Blessing.

Everyday of my life was recorded in your Book-

Psalms 139:13-16

You made the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Everyday of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Friends, it has been a while since I have written my devotions. A lot has happend in our lives in a short time. Just two days ago I felt the whole world stopped revolving when I heard that our second baby 7 weeks of gestation will not be making it into our arms.

News of a positive pregancy can make a woman's emotions go high but feelings of uncertainity, fear of loss of the baby, still birth stories, miscarriages and sudden infant death incidents are unavoidable. You cannot avoid those feelings. One thing I know is that no matter what you think or imagine or fear, the Lord knows his plan for us.

Dreams of baby showers, baby clothes -what colors to choose- Is it going to be a boy or a girl? Are we going to have twins? Who is the baby going to look like? What are we going to name the baby?

Are we going to be in the same home when the baby arrives? Do these questions sound familiar to you? I was being bombarded by these questions as soon as I knew we were pregnant with our second baby.

Did you ever wonder about how the whole knitting in the womb happens? Do you think and believe it is evolution just like Darwin did or do you think it is the marvelous workmanship of the great giver of life-Our Lord God?

Let me start by narrating my joyful journey with you. God has taken me through an amazing process of thinking, thanking and testing and triumph as a result of this loss.

Whenever I see Jordan, I only feel sad that I wish this baby made it too so I could have a cute face like her just beside her. I dreamt dreams of Jordan having a little sibling.

But God had other plans:

This joyful journey began when my dearly beloved sister Julie Boles, wife of my OB/GYN, who delivered little Miss Jordan invited me to go with her and their beutiful daughter Abbie to go on a 2 day retreat to a conference called "DEEPER STILL" by Beth Moore, Kay Arthur and Priscilla Shirer.

We enjoyed our ride together for about 3 Hours to Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. We talked about so many things, we laughed, we cried and we chuckled all along the drive.

We checked into the Hotel, had our dinner and then went off to the convention center that had about 14,000 women. We did not find any seats on the ground level, so we had to climb the stairs and made our way all the way to the top seats. I was so afraid to sit up there and seldom could concentrate on the 3 great speakers.

I knew something was wrong with me- I was getting breathless and anxious. I kept saying "Lord, please protect me from falling". I thought I will fall down and tumble down all the way to the feet of the speakers. Are you all laughing? That is how afraid I was.

The music is what was so enriching, the word was so encouraging. The song that touched my heart is "Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God, you are higher than any other. Our God is the healer, awesome in power"

I knew something was going on in my body but was not sure. I thought I could be expecting our second baby. I did not tell anything to Julie about my unsure pregnancy.

After having a great time of comfort, restoration through the word of God, we checked ourselves out on a Sunday evening- 5th December 2010 and Julie was playing her favorite song : Our God is greater- the same song that touched my heart.

We stopped at Cracker Barrel in Alabama to have our lunch. That is when I opened up to sweet Julie to tell that I could be pregnant but was not sure.Julie laughed and then did not talk about it until we reached Nashville. She looked into my eyes and said "Zion, you are pregnant". I said No I am not. She looked at me and said I was. I smiled back at her and was convinced that I was pregnant. She took me to the CVS Pharmacy and brought me a pregnancy kit to check myself out. She even bought two little pacifiers that said "DADDY I LOVE YOU" she put them in a little gift bag that had little footprints on it. My Baby's daddy is Jesus now. My husband feels sad but He is calm resting assured that Jesus has the Best plan for us.

I just couldnt believe what she was doing. She had the total faith that I AM pregnant.

I come home and check myself and lo and behold" I am pregnant" My result was +ve

I was so happy and excited. She asked me to text her back with a little + sign and said to keep it hush from my husband. I called her immediatey and told Abbie" Abbie, I am pregnant" She screamed and Julie was so happy for me. I am going to be a Mommy again. My happiness knew no bounds. Our God is greater, Our God is stronger, Our God is awesome in power.

I couldnt keep my secret. I told my husband I was pregnant. He did not believe it.

As usual he said He will pray about it. He did not sound as excited as he was when I was pregnant with Jordan. I was hurt and upset but he said he had his reasons. Reasons that this baby might not make it.

I kept the news to myself and my husband and Julie and Brent and to very few people.

I started praying for this darling baby of mine. That same night in our family prayer my husband read Psalms 139. I was unsure still. I couldnt believe I was pregnant. I was asking God for a confirmation- a clearer confirmation more than the CLEAR BLUE. I needed a CLEAR BIBLE confirmation.

The verse that brought confirmation to me was verse 13,14,15, and 16 from Psalms 139

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My fram was not hidden from you when I was being made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book, before one of them came to be.

This verse gave me a clear confirmation that Yes! I am pregnant with our second child.

I started getting very close to my new baby. I prayed over him/her everyday whenever I ate, I walked, I slept and I woke up. Now this baby too was part of my day and night just like my little Jordie. I will miss the feeling of being pregnant and dreaming dreams of delivering a baby like Jordan. I wanted to name him Johan Charles Spurgeon. I consecrated him to the Lord to be a missionary, a preacher like my husband, my dad and my father-in-law. My hopes have all come crashing down but God knows that this baby will not be the one that I dreamt about.

He has bigger and better plans for me.

I was dreading something though. The day 28th December 2007 was when I almost miscarried Jordan. I was bleeding heavily was rushed to the emergency and the baby was still there with 163 beats per minute. The doctor in the ER said I have a 50/50 chance to carry this baby full-term.

But God recorded everyday of Jordan's life in His book. Jordan was delivered at 37 weeks- a beautiful baby so fearfully and wonderfully made by God's own workmanship. God reminded me that all my tears were take by God the Father to make her. Weeping lasts for just a night but my joy came in the morning. I delivered a healthy beautiful Jordan. She had a head full of hair and the Medical team in the Nursery put a little purple (royal) bow on the hair of our little princess.

Did you know that the same day December 28th in the life of my second baby was a nightmare?

Yes, I started spotting. I called Julie and told her about what I was experiencing. She scheduled me for an ultrasound.

My husband had a prior appointment to go and pray for a lady from the church who was about to go for a surgery. I told him I would be fine without him. I went for the ultrasound and the technician did not look very happy with what she was seeing and she refused to show me anything.

The radiologist walks in and then tells me that I am 7 weeks pregnant with no sign of baby's heartbeat.

I was so disappointed, hurt and sad. All I know was that my Lord is in total control of this baby and that everyday of this baby was recorded in His book.

My husband came to pick me up and I told him what had happened. We went to the Doctors office and he hugged me and prayed for me and said "Zion, it was worse with Jordan, but see what you have now, a beauiful, healthy baby". I and Julie will be praying for a miracle and he prayed for both of us. We went home. My hormone test was very promising with a HcG level of 25,000 and then Dr.Boles checked me again in 48hours and it dropped to 23,000.

I was having hope against hope that this baby will make it all the way through delivery just like Jordan did.

I was scheduled for another ultrasound on Monday 3 Jan, 2011 and my husband had a surprise preaching appointment at the Rutherford County Jail where he preached a sermon on - our God is a God of second chances. I told him the Lord's work is our priority and the Lord's will will prevail about this little one. So he went to preach and my sweet cousin Sarah Rose drove me to the Imaging center.

My husband met me there. We went in and my husband who can read images said that he sees the yolk sac, the baby with no heartbeat.

Same day 4th January 2008, I had an ultrasound impression that there was a live intrauterine pregnancy with 7 weeks gestation with a heart rate of 142 beats per minute. The same day 4th January 2011, the report said gestation and no heartbeat. Dont you think I was not wondering if God wasn't anxious about this whole ordeal? Yes, I was wondering but He has everything in control. He will never fail us.

I lost my baby at 7 weeks of gestation. Was I sad? Oh Yes! Heartbroken, devastated! Did I have words to thank Jesus? No, I dint. All I said was "Lord, I humbly bow down to your will".

Every moment was laid for this baby. He ordained every single day from the time of conception for this baby. Myself and my husband came home sad. Yet we knew that the Lord knew best for this sweet little one.

I will miss him/her for now and I know that one day I will see my little baby in heaven. I have a treasure in heaven now. I know the baby was meant to be mine on this earth but God had an eternal plan for the baby.

This verse always intrigued me: You knit me together in my mother's womb and that God watched this baby being made in utter seclusion and how the baby was woven together in dark seclusion. This made so much sense to me when I saw the gestational sac in which my baby was. A tiny 7 week old baby secure in the sac. Nothing pulled the baby out of the sac not even the pain and agony I was going through. That is how secure we are when we are in the Lord. Nothing should pull us out of the sac of his hands.

I delivered the gestational sac right after Brent and Julie Boles- My Doctor who left our home after a long visit with us. A visit filled with love, encouragement and comfort. I do not know what we would do without them and their love for us and our children.

Someone anonymous send me flowers from across the oceans, cards at our door step, phone calls from church, from our dearest Pastors, friends, comforting emails, visits.++

+ I was so glad that in this country where we are sojourners we have people who love us and care for us. What an awesome body of Christ who aches when we are in pain. Thank you all so much for being there for us.

What an awesome workmanship of the creator! A little sac- so transparent, so tightly sewn into the uterus of the mother. A tiny baby in it undergoing everyday of formation into a little baby one day to be delivered to step into this earth.

I just couldnt believe what I saw. I was amazed and knew that nothing like this could have ever evolved from an Ape. This is the total hand of the marvelous workmanship of the Creator and the sustainer of life.

How awesome are your works, Lord! After I lost the baby, the Lord comforted me with this verse from Psalms 16:10 & 11 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

What an amazing assurance that the Lord granted the joy of his eternal presence to my sweet baby granting him/her the pleasure of living with him alone forever.

I am at peace because I have the presence of the Lord in me everyday. I am content because I contemplate his daily presence within me. As I understand the future he has for me and my children and my husband, I will ever continue to experience joy in my life. Hence I decided to base my life not on the present circumstances but totally on God.

The Lord began his process of healing my heart of this pain of losing my baby. It will take a while for me to come to terms with this loss but one day at a time sweet Jesus that is all I am asking from you. My sister is dealing with it even now since 4 months passed by after losing her baby. She conceived after 17years of trying to conceive. She got pregnant in May, 2010 and lost the baby at 21 weeks. It was a little baby girl- Grace Anne. My heart breaks for her and hers breaks for me.

Her due date for the baby to arrive is 15th January 2011. What will she be waiting for- heartache?

pain and sorrow? The baby is gone to be with Jesus. It is so hard. Very hard.

My dear friend Kate who had 3 miscarriages was encouraging me telling me that she has more babies in heaven than on earth. She has two lovely boys after each miscarriage. She still grieves the loss.

So many young women await to see a +ve pregnancy test, to get pregnant to give birth but so many young women are throwing their lives into the hands of sin, conceiving out of wedlock and aborting babies and abandoning them. Why is the question I ask. When I love children, my sister loves babies, why does it have to happen to us when the rest of the world is aborting babies left, right and center? God has a plan friends, He does and He loves me and my sister a lot and he is using this as a testimony for generations to come.

We comfort each other and encourage each other that the heights of joy will be ours when we finally rest in peace when we see Jesus face to face and our babies face to face someday in heaven.

My parents lost two grand babies this year. It is a big loss but this as my friend and sister Julie Boles always says: Is for a testimony. Our God is a God of second chances and He will use each and every circumstance in our life to restore, rebuild and rectify our lives.

He build mine and I am sure He will do the same for you today. I did not want to give any room for depression or sadness today because my Lord is still on the throne and he has me in the palms of his hand. All I know is if God wanted me to have this baby against all odds as he did for Jordan, he would have made the way for me to have this baby. He had a plan; He was the master, and nobody could destroy his plan. This removes all feeling of guilt from me ("I should have done, could have done or did or didnt do" that would have changed the way. All that love could do was done)-words taken from a card that one of our friends dropped at our door step who lost a baby themselves few years ago.

I am not guilty of anything because no one could destroy the Lord's plan for this baby-not even me.

Here are the words from an old song:

If I don't know the way, You know it.

If I don't know the plan You know it.

You know the time, you know the way

You know everything.

And I said, Lord that's it. I give it all up into your hands. You know the time; you know everything. I know nothing. I am sad and broken but now it's in your hands. Whenever I eat my food now, I cannot control my grief because I used to thank the Lord for the food and to also bless my baby and his/her growth in me. I am sad because who do I pray for now? God encourages me to pray for all the pregnant women to go through safe pregnancies. I now know the pain of losing a baby myself.

Friend's God made us for a better place and we have no choice but to rejoice when our loved ones have made their way to Him, while we mourn the loss of their departure from us. But we need to thank God for the hope of a joyful reunion that one day we will know in His presence.

These words comforted me from the card given to us by our dearest friends the Boles' who delivered our Jordan.

I know the sweet assurance that the Lord will turn my mourning into joy. I know one day I too will carry a beautiful baby in my arms who the Lord choses to keep with us until the purpose of his birth is served.

Friends, inspite of my pain and sorrow I am writing this blog just to make you all understand the beauty of God's intricate plans for your lives, for the lives of your children. I did not want to loose another second should your son/daughter, your child will not make it another day on this earth. If your child made it all through the gestation in your womb is because Jesus has a plan for him/her. Are you a faithful steward in raising that child? Have you done your job full measure in making him/her understand the essence of life? that there is no other way to the father other than through Jesus?

During my waiting time to hear about this new baby's heartbeat, during my cramping and pain and bed rest, my husband sent a little cross for me with Jordan and she brings it to my bed and climbs up on the bed, lays down beside me with her little head so close to me and said "Mummy, see the Blood of Jesus" I got shivers down my spine. I never spoke to her about Jesus' blood so far. I only told her Jesus is in her heart. I did not know how she knew about the blood of Jesus.

Psalms 8:2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength.

Jordan is taught by God and it is our responsibility to take her further in her walk with God. Julie always tells me that Jordan has strong anointing on her life and the way she spoke about the blood of Jesus rocked my world.

How many of you all have children that you don't know where they are tonight. Are they at your dining table or at anyone else's table? Do you know the pain that your child is going through? Are you there for her as a parent? Don't just take your children's lives for granted just because all was well during your pregnancy and when you gave birth to them. You will only know the importance of life once you loose it. Love them, cherish them, do not provoke them and do not hurt them in ways that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Let us therefore intimately introspect our lives as parents. Did you raise your child in the way of life? Have you introduced Jesus to them? Are you walking with the Lord daily? If your child will not make it another day on this earth, where will he/she be? Is their eternal destiny secure?

What are you waiting for? Just do it friends. Talk to them and lead them to Jesus who died for them who rose again. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Introduce Jesus to them. They came into your womb not by accident but because God is the architect. He planned your children and he breathed into their nostrils. He gave them a heartbeat and if their heart is still beating, dont waste your time. Just pray for them and lead them to Jesus before its too late before you dont see a heartbeat anymore.

This life is here today and is gone the next minute. There are no guarantees my friend. The picture attached is my +ve pregnancy test, my baby's gestational sac in a memory box that my sweet Julie gave me to remember that I have a baby with Jesus with a heart of gold.

The first day when we heard the news, I came home and burst our crying and then Jordan comes closer to me. She pulled her onesie closer to me and said "Mummy, your eyes are wet, come closer I will wipe them". I cried even more. If a little 2 year old can feel my pain, dont you think my heavenly father's heart is hurting for me today? Ofcourse it is. He just wants me to be stronger and he is only perfecting my faith in Him and His promises for me and my little family.

I love you and thank you for reading my blog today. Thank you Lord for bearing my sorrow so I dont have to carry it myself. Help me to experience your peace that passes all understanding. I want to feel the lightness of heart I know you have for me. Lord, I pray that you would take away any sadness I feel and evaporate all depression or oppression that hangs heavily over me as a result of my loss. I know my baby is safe with you. I love you so much because you know what is best for me and my little one.

May this incident bring glory to you alone and not to any man on this earth. Have you lost a little one like I did? Take comfort and courage. God is in control. The baby you have lost will not come back to you that is a fact but the babies you have in your hands now are your responsibility so work on their lives and be a great example to them for generations to come.

Be Blessed and be a Blessing