New Every Morning~May 14

[Etta Sue]

Anthony ~ I am sorry that your country and church doesn't honor Mother's Day or Father's Day.  Again, I look for the good in things, not evil.  Even the evil mothers and fathers may be special on their days and this may help them overcome their evil.  Besides, Exodus 20:12 states that we are to honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the lord your God is giving you. NIV

Mieka ~ I wish I could write words like you do.  Your words said exactly what I would like to have said...

Marilyn ~ So sorry about your camera.  Go to WalMart and get you a camera.  They are becoming more reasonable (cheaper  ) every day.  You really don't need all the bells and whistles to take a good picture.  God gives the beauty for our taking.  

I am noticing the 'return to topic' works on the others but not NEM.  Could be because it is 'new' every day.

[Anthony]

Etta Sue it isn't correct that the UK does not celebrate mother's day or father's day, but we don't give time during a church service to give presents out.  Some of our mothers have not yet come to Christ and are therefore still in their sins - according to the word of God (not my words, but God's word). It would be inappropriate to praise people who are evil.

Just out of curiosity, do your churches give presents to men on father's day?  I know that in the UK father's day is being given nearly as much thought as mother's day, but it has been slow in coming.  When I was a child there was no such thing as father's day.  Now if you are not celebrating father's day as church thing, in the way that your churches celebrate mother's day, are you not guilty of being respector of persons?  

Another point is that the written pieces shown on CP over the mother's day period simply honoured mothers, but how can christians honour certain groups when large numbers of people within those groups are evil?  If we write poems and prose to mothers shouldn't we, as christians, restrict the sentiments to godly mothers only?  If we don't do this, then we are praising those whom God is not praising (it will be interesting to note if there will be any pieces of prose written in favour of fathers during the father's day celebrations).

I am sorry if I offend, but I feel very strongly about these things and would not be honest if I said I wasn't.  (BTW, I did also mention a friend of mine who was very sick during my last post, I hope your concern over defending mothers doesn't prevent you from lifting him up in prayer.  I would greatly appreciate prayer for him at this time).

Anthony.

[joan]

This morning I mentioned a Russian teen who became a Christian and is suffering persecution for that.  Her name is Natalia instead of Natalie.  I sent this website to her via missionaries in Russia.  Hopefully, she will join us here.  Thanks also to those who are including this new Christian in their prayers.

[Marilyn]

Anthony: In my church the mother's received gifts AFTER CHURCH as they were leaving. I don't remember if the father's received gifts last year or not. The gifts we did receive were not anything frivolous (sp) but something useful. We got measuring cups and a fancy vegetable peeler. And our speacker was a missionary, her talk was about her mission.

Last year Pastor gave all the mothers a small  starter begonia plant. My died. I over watered it.

[Sonifo]

So Anthony what you are saying is that if anyone sin then they should not be praised?  My kids sin and yet I should not praise them?  My husbands sins and I should not praise him.  My pastor sins and I should not praise him?  You sin and I should not praise you?  It doesnt make sense.  If people did not praise one another then we would walk around it a very depressing world.  

Being a parent is the hardest job any one could have.  We have to teach our child what is right and wrong.  Yes we do make mistakes and sin.  Yes sin.  If I was to say I did not sin then I would be the biggest liar here.  I do and God knows we can not go with out sin so he gave us his Son to die for our sins.  I wish I was perfect, I really do.  

I feel that if my kids did not honor me or their dad then I think I would be teaching them wrong. Don't you think??  

[Sonifo]

Our church gave out flowers to all the mothers and on fathers day they give out a tube of grease.  heheheehee..not really they give a card to the fathers.  

[Etta Sue]

I had a post all typed out but I refrained from posting it.  I have my beliefs and others have theirs.  I don't believe that this site is meant to change anyone's beliefs.  We are to honor God and His Son, Christ Jesus.  The Holy Spirit tells me that.  

Question.  What if you are a Christian but your parents are not Christians.  Are you to honor them?  Or do you exclude them because they are not Christians?

[Pat]

Joan, I've changed the name in my prayer list of Natalia in Russia.  It will be so nice if she's able to come to our site.  Thanks for sending the URL with the missionaries.


I added Nigel to my list earlier, Anthony, when you mentioned his need of prayer.   Thanks for mentioning this need.  I've also added him to our "Have You Prayed About It?" area where we'll have him in our site more often.

[Etta Sue]

Natalie....such a pretty name.  If you are reading this, I pray that you will join us.  Some days we are very funny in what we say....some days very serious.  But we truly believe in Christ, our Savior.  

Welcome, Natalie....

[Sonifo]

Etta Sue~Great question!  I don't think it matters if we want to honor or not honor our mother or dad.  I think we should no matter what, because God says so.   It is hard to honor those who treat other and ourselves badly but God says to love one another.

I guess in a way it is all about forgiveness.

[Jane Walker]

Sonja

I guess in a way it is all about forgiveness.

Yes, indeed!  You have the sum of all things Jesus teaches in this statement!  Bless you .. and all the others here.  

If you notice He gave only two commandments in all His teaching ... to LOVE and to FORGIVE

[Anthony]

If your churches honour fathers in the same way that they honour mothers, then their is no partiality being shown.  I could join in with that, but if one group is being given preferential treatment my conscience would prevent me from joining in with it.  I also think that our time during a service should be spent in worshipping God alone and not praising men and women.  If stuff is given out after service, perhaps  that is more acceptable.

I think that you can tell that I don't like pieces of writing that present mothers as being flawless, because it is simply not true and our christian walk should be guided by what is truth.  

Now, I am glad that you allowed me to get that off my chest and when father's day comes I will try to find something appropriate to acknowledge their hard work.

Pat, thanks for remembering Nigel.  He is a wonderful christian brother who is going through a tough time at the moment.  He collapsed in the bedroom and was unable to lift himself.  He spent all night on the floor and had to call 999 in the morning.  Thank you for your prayers one and all.

Anthony.

[Carol]

CP hasn't been forgotten.  My life is quite busy right now.  It is interesting and good to read the posts and good to see questions and well-thought out answers.  

Our oldest son called to tell us that a neighbor/friend has committed suicide.  Very sad.  He had two years of health problems that have not ever been diagnosed and apparently very painful.  I don't know any other details.  It is especially meaninful to me as this son rarely shares his feelings.  

God is in control.  

Carol

[Carol]

I shall add a story about yesterday.  Hubby drove to the mountains for a meeting - it is a 3 1/2 trip each way.  On the way uphill, in a isolated rest area, he stopped to use the facilities.  It was locked and he climbed a big snowbank to go around the back and came back and stepped on what he thought was clear - but turned out to be ice.  Lost his footing and fell hard on his side.  Not a soul around but thankfully, he didn't hit his head.  He chewed Tylenol and had to drive back so much in pain.  Today is much better - it could have been a real emergency in the snow and so isolated and I would not have missed him for hours to come.  Praise and thanks.  Carol

[Papa John]

Joan, thanks for telling us about Natalia.  I will pray for her.  Sometimes it is very difficult for people who become Christians when their families don't understand.  

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

[Sonifo]

Praise God, Carol your husband is alright.

[Marilyn]

Carol: I pray your husband will heal quickly and there will be no after effects  of his fall. Praise God that he was able to get up and get home safely.

Natalia if you are looking in here, We are praying for you. God Bless you sister. Don't ever give up praying for your family's salvation.

[mieka]

Mr Anthony, I do not want for you to be unhappy that I share my thoughts with you. I do love you as my friend and brother here.  – Here is a nother flower for you, ok  

It would be inappropriate to praise people who are evil.  

If we are not to judge them, how are we to say anyone is evil? Perhaps if we love everyone and praise everyone there will be no evil in "OUR" hearts. Is it not ourselves we are try to make perfect in the eyes of God?

It is my wonder why you feel so strong of this. I did not even know my mother, I am not certain even how or if I should honor her. I do not know if she is good or evil. But it is still written to honor my parents.   I do not know how to do it yet. I think "I" need to forgive them. It will allow more room in my heart for better things.  

[Jane Walker]

MIEKA~

I think "I" need to forgive them. It will allow more room in my heart for better things.  

It is very important that you forgive others...no matter what.  Jesus said as we forgive we will be forgiven by our Father in heaven.  It is for your good that you release others of any retribution or hard feelings of unforgiveness.  Let God deal with them, you need His love and forgiveness and He plainly says "forgive us ... as we forgive others." Matthew 6:12.

[Papa John]

 Mieka expresses in a simple way something maybe we should all do good to think about

If we are not to judge them, how are we to say anyone is evil? Perhaps if we love everyone and praise everyone there will be no evil in "OUR" hearts. Is it not ourselves we are try to make perfect in the eyes of God?

It is my wonder why you feel so strong of this. I did not even know my mother, I am not certain even how or if I should honor her. I do not know if she is good or evil. But it is still

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Anthony, you have a right to feel the way you do.  It is right to express your convictions and I love you for your desire that everything be done right in the eyes of God.  I don't understand why, like Mieka, that you feel so strongly about this.  We honor our leaders in government and pray for them as the Bible teaches.  But they aren't all honorable men and women.

We can praise people for the good they do.  

1 Cor 11:2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.  (NIV)

But we do not praise them for things they do which are not right.  There was a time when Corinthian Christians were not observing the Lord's supper as they should.

1 Cor 11:22  Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! (NIV)

In any case I hope we will not be disturbed because there are differences of opinion.  We show people we are His if we have love one for another.  Right?

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

[Etta Sue]

Love and forgiveness.  The two most important items we have.  Christ told his disciples, "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any towns of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."  Matt 10:5-6  "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you." Matt 6:14

Mieka ~ I love your thought.  

I think "I" need to forgive them. It will allow more room in my heart for better things.  

Isn't that the truth.  When we think bad about others, then it gets a grip on us.  Think good things and the whole world is better.  

[Etta Sue]

Carol ~ Thank you for sharing your praise to God for guiding your husband when he was isolated in the mountains and snow.  God does watch for his children.  I pray your husband is okay and has no ill effects from his fall.

[mieka]

Question.  What if you are a Christian but your parents are not Christians.  Are you to honor them?  Or do you exclude them because they are not Christians?

You will catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

If we are to be fisherman of people, everyone must be welcome, yes?  If we shame them because they are not Christians they will never want to be a Christians.
They might not wish to spend time with a Christen, but i think a Christians should welcome even the least of these my brothers.

[Marilyn]

In the bible it says Honor your father and your mother.  It doesn't say If they sin do not honor them. I feel we should obey God's commandments. That include Honoring both Father and Mother. Of evil things God Says To pray for those who dispitefully use you. and that vengence belongs to the Lord.  I am paraphrasing here but it also says, if your enemy is hungry feed him, if he is thirsty give him a drink in so doing you are heaping coals of fire upon his head. So if our parents have done bad things to us then we are to let God handle the situation and we are to forgive them anyway, and to pray for them.
There have been things in my life with my step father and husbands that were evil things and very sinful things, it took me getting saved and reading the bible to understand that I still had to forgive the past wrongs done to me by those men in my life. Since most are dead now I had to pray and tell God that I forgave them. The ones still alive I forgave in person. One is now saved that was an answer to prayer in itself. He apologized to me and asked forgiveness years after I told him he was forgiven.

[Etta Sue]

No one is born a Christian.  That is something that we have a choice in doing.  We all have to start somewhere.  We are happy at our church to see new people.  I gain great joy in watching people grow in Christ.  You can see their demeanor change.  Their backs are straighter and their smile is honest and wholesome.  They take pride in themselves.  My greatest joy in church is to see someone being baptized.  Another sheep in the fold.  My one regret was that I waited so long to be baptized and professed that Christ is my Lord and Savior.  

It is never too late to accept Christ but could be too late NOT to accept Christ.  

[Judy McKenna]

Sonja:  BTW - that is a beautiful photo you have here on CP.  Is it a self photo?  You did a great job.  Was it taken in your garden?

Pat - did you get the gardening done?  Today we went to Walmart to get some garbage pails, and a bath mat (exciting day ).

I'm glad to see our church recognizing mothers and fathers on "their special days"!  Mothers received a rose when the service was over., and special mothers were recognized.

One dear lady was recognized....she is 96, and never misses a church service.

[Jerry L. Sowers]

Papa John ~ Another lovely photo of you and Cornelia!

[Judy McKenna]

Hi Jerry... I agree with you!

[Sonifo]

Papa John~you are so knowledgable in the bible. I hope to be as good as you some day.  It is so hard to remember all the verses.  How do you do it?

Mieka~The best way to forgive others is to put yourself in their shoes.  It helps to think of why they do somethings.  I have faith that you are on your way to great things with your attitude.  It is great to see you learning a taking in so much at one time.  Keep the questions coming. It makes us all think!  

Judy~Thank you so much.  Yes it is a self portrait.  And no it was not taken in my garden.  It was taken in the park down the street from our house.  While taking this picture I dropped my camera. But it still works good.  Thank God.  I had the camera on a picnic table.  

It is good to see everyone posting and sharing their thoughts.  

[Papa John]

Thank you Jerry and Judy.  I cut that picture out of one which was made last year at the wedding of my granddaughter, Martha Nell.  BTW another granddaughter is being married this Saturday.  This will make the third granddaughter to marry.  Our last one is getting married in July.

Sonja, thank you for the compliment.  I have been a student of the Bible more than 50 years and still have much to learn.  I can remember that the Bible says this or that somewhere and when I can't remember just where I just look it up in a concordance.  I have a great Bible program on my computer which helps me to look up scriptures.

I attended a great Bible class tonight at church.  I hope you all have a good night's rest.

--- Papa John              <)))><<