Category Archives: Seriously

What’s It Worth to You?

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Through the years we have known families who have invested significant finances and time to have good Christian fellowship. We have seen some sell houses and move across town or across the country to have that fellowship. What a blessing to be with others who are likeminded. But what if you don’t have those around you who are likeminded?

May I encourage you to embrace the possibility that the Lord may have a season of life in the wilderness for you? Are you willing to seek Him with all your heart and delight in Him? Moses, David, and John the Baptist all had times of being alone, and look what God did in their lives. Draw near to Him, be in the Word, and embrace loneliness. Ask the Lord to fill you with His presence. Then when the time is right, He will send earthly fellowship. In the meantime, rejoice in Him.

“And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

Steve

Which Do You Prefer, Dusk or Dawn?

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It’s easy to tell dark from light, but impossible to tell dusk from dawn by one snapshot in time. It is easy to tell by the decisions people make whether they are living in the dark or in the light. We have known many families whose lives were an example of walking in the light and many whose lives were examples of walking in the dark.

It is difficult to discern whether a family is walking in the dusk or in the dawn. If you took a photo of a family in either, unless you could tell by the direction of their shadows, you wouldn’t know whether it was dusk or dawn. You would know only by comparing snapshots over time. In a similar way, it takes observing a family’s decisions to predict whether they are walking from the light toward darkness or walking toward the light from darkness.

Dawn is good in our spiritual journey as we walk ever closer to our Lord and His light and away from darkness. As the Lord Jesus reveals more of His Light, we purge the darkness of evil as we draw near to Him.

Sadly, over the years we have observed families become more worldly as they head for the darkness. They are in dusk, gradually moving from the light to the dark, with ever increasing, even if slight, degrees of worldliness.

Which way are you leading your family? Each choice that we make is like a snapshot that records the direction of our movement. Take inventory in these areas as they indicate the condition and direction of our hearts: clothing, music, viewing habits, entertainment, and friends. “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:13-16)

Steve

The Dark

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Everything and everyone is equally beautiful in the dark, yet the ugliest of sins thrive in the dark. The worst comes out of a person in the dark.

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5)

Steve

Life Takes Work

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Dads usually work 40 or more hours a week.

Moms with several children often work 60 or more hours a week.

Those who have initiative and work hard will do far better in life than those who love entertainment and recreation.

God put man in the garden and on this earth to work. We do our children no favors if we do not teach them to enjoy work when, in fact, they will spend the majority of their daytime hours throughout their lives working.

Are we great examples of enjoying work, or do we “live for” fun and entertainment? Work is a blessing. If you doubt it, simply ask any immigrant or person who is out of work. 

Jesus Christ was totally focused on the “work” the Father gave Him to do on earth. He gave all of His day to His work. He finished His work and now sits beside the Father so that those who believe on Him might enter the rest of eternal life with Him.

Do we have a mind to work and be about the Lord’s business while He has us on this earth, or do we have a mind to play?  

“But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (John 5:17)

Steve

Make sure to follow the Debt-Free Series which is just beginning on Titus2 blog.

One Way or Another

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I drove past a large billboard that challenged motorists to “Dream Bigger.” That is a great concept that all of us should embrace. Sadly, that billboard was more of a sign of our times than advice we should take seriously. It was promoting people to dream bigger by spending more of their money on the state lot**ry in hopes of getting rich quick.

What happened to the time when dreaming bigger meant reaching for the stars, having goals that were bigger than what we thought we were capable of, striving for things not previously accomplished but well worth seeking? Why not dream bigger by believing “I can do all things through Christ.” May we live for Christ with complete abandonment and join Paul as fools for Christ. 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

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Thank you to those who responded to my question of whether you are committed to raising your children to be debt free. I’m thrilled that families are making this choice. There were too many who responded to reply personally to, but I’ve found a way to begin corresponding with you. If you will go to our Titus2 blog, and sign up to receive the blog via email on the right sidebar. Enter your email address and click “Subscribe.” You will begin receiving the blog by email. I will be writing brief posts and stories that will encourage you in your commitment and toward your success. The first post will be September 30th. Will you join me?

Steve

Who Do You Relate To?

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Have you noticed that not many husbands and wives are mentioned in the New Testament? Besides Joseph and Mary, there are two quite famous couples–Priscilla/Aquila and Ananias/Sapphira. Though both were loyal to each other in marriage, one was a noble team and the other ignoble. One focused on the Lord’s work; the other, on their personal benefit. Which one would you most likely be compared to? If your marriage is not being used of the Lord for His glory, time is running out. Shouldn’t you make some changes now?

How are you preparing your children for life? One aspect, is being good stewards of God’s provision. Are you raising them with the goal of them being debt-free? If you are committed to raising them to be debt-free, please write me by replying to this email. I would like to help.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

Steve

Blessing or a Curse?

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When rain comes, it is going to “rain on someone’s parade” spoiling some outside plans.

Snow makes driving hazardous. 

Employment can get in the way of other things one would prefer to do.

Marriage means being accountable to someone who will not always agree with you. 

Whether you live in the desert, a big city, the mountains, or Alaska, each has its drawbacks.

It all depends what you make of it. Will you, in faith, look beyond your circumstances and trust God to do a work that will bring you good and Him glory? 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Steve

Who Would Have Imagined?

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Who would have thought the current laws of the land possible?

Who would have thought the current laws would be so selectively enforced?

Who would have thought a mother could legally kill her unborn baby?

Who would have thought we would have the current presidential candidates?

Who would have imagined the current impact of the “church” on our nation?

Who would have imagined so many professing families in so much trouble?

Who would have thought that so many professing families would not be in the Word daily (personally and as a family) nor obediently following the Spirit?

Hmm, thinking of it, it really does make sense, doesn’t it? “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Steve

To or Not To?

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Our “modern” and “enlightened” world promotes gluttony and self-indulgence of every sort. Yet, I have never met a person who was enslaved in self-indulgence and devoid of self-control who was happy. One cannot be enslaved and walk in the Spirit.

Isn’t it amazing that most people still respect self-discipline? May we not follow the world on its self-destructive path.

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

Steve

Trade Ya

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Everything in life involves a trade, and what you trade for is based on what you value. You will trade your money for something once you perceive it to have sufficient value. Many trades don’t involve money but time.

My greatest worldly passion was flying small, private airplanes. Back in 1979, however, I traded flying for my family and I haven’t regretted it. Flying was expensive and pulled my heart away from my family. I felt the Lord asking me to give it up and to seek Him first and my family next.

There are many “good” things that can pull our hearts away from the best things. We have one life, and every day is priceless. One dad’s moto was to make every day count because you are trading a day of your life for it. May we be found faithful.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matthew 24:45-46)

Steve