Friday, November 23, 2007

Thanksgiving for family

Good morning! This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you had a great day with your family yesterday. In fact, many of you are probably still with family. What a blessing that families are. We have spent the past few days in Branson with my Mother & Father in-law, as well as all of my children and grandchildren. Life just doesn't get any better than that. I have been overwhelmed with thanksgiving this week. I have been studying this morning the message that I plan to preach Sunday morning entitled, "Wisdom for the Family." I believe God is going to speak to each of us, and challenge us to make sure that our families are built upon the solid Rock of Jesus Christ. I hope you plan to be there, as well as bring family members with you as we celebrate "Family Day at First Assembly."

I apologize that I have not written on my blog this week. I planned to, however, our condo didn't have internet of any kind. I felt lost the first couple of days, but it ended up being nice and relaxing. Let me share with you a thought this morning.

Through her books and lectures, Edith Schaeffer has become much appreciated for her insights into the value of life's ordinary days. When she and her husband Francis were first married, both sets of parents lived nearby. The newlyweds divided each Sunday afternoon and evening be-tween the Schaeffers and the Sevilles.

After a few years, Edith and Francis moved to Switzerland, where they could talk with their parents only once a year in a brief phone conversation.

Looking back half a century later, Edith wrote of being glad for the way they had used those Sunday afternoons. She noted that "proximity of loved ones is not an endless situation." She concluded that a package labeled "time to care for parents and exhibit love" doesn't just arrive someday. We must show love while we can.

The fifth of the Ten Commandments says: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). The command to love and respect our parents applies equally to children living at home, newly independent young couples, and empty-nesters.

Seize each moment you have to love and honor your family. The opportunity won't last forever.

Putting It Into Action

  • Plan a regular time to call a family member.
  • Help an aged relative with a project or housework.
  • Write a letter to someone you love but cannot visit.

Time is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other.

I love you guys, and hope you have a great weekend with your family. I look forward to seeing you Sunday morning in church, and please…BRING YOUR FAMILY!

Pastor Rusty


 


 

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

I cannot agree more about the importance of family. After my relationship with the Lord, there is nothing more important than my family. We have family devotion every night at 8:30. We are so serious about that because of the wisdom of a friend who said if he could do anything different as he raised his kids it would be making family devotion important. Also, we start every morning having our personal devotions together as the first thing after we wake up. I make special time for my daughter not only so we can spend time together laughing and having fun, but also so I can listen to her and hear what she says. I want her to know that how she feels and what she thinks is very important to me. I make special time for my spouse too because she is very important, and I want her to know that how she feels and what she thinks is very critical to me. I am so glad for my mom and mother and father in law. I am so blessed because of my family. We spent Thanksgiving together and we ate, laughed, talked and enjoyed a great time together. There is nothing more important, although it is degenerating in our nation, as the family. We need to be so careful that we don't let it fall on the backburner to jobs, personal interests and friendships. As we keep God in the center and the family surrounding Him we will be headed in the right direction.
Pastor Bill