I'm sure most of you have seen images of the destruction of the earthquake that struck Kathmandu, Nepal on April 25. The pictures simply tug at your heart strings. Seeing people's homes and business completely destroyed in moments is incredible. Buildings and statues hundreds of years old were destroyed in minutes. People are seen sitting on the top of the rubble of what was their homes. And, knowing that at the last count I saw over 4,400 people are confirmed dead with thousands injured. To think that all of this destruction came so unexpectedly is unimaginable.
Yet, each time I see the pictures of the desolation of the Nepal earthquake, or the devastation caused by the volcano that erupted in Calbuco, Chile, or the ruin caused by hurricanes, tornados and floods, I am reminded of another type of foundation we build on. This foundation is not made of cement, bricks, mortar, or steel. Rather, this foundation is what we build our lives on. This foundation represents our philosophy of life. When trouble hits us it is when our foundation is tested.
The Psalmist said in Psalm 11:3, "If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?" This question is a good question to ask ourselves. Each of us need to be able to give an answer for this question. If you were to ask people in Nepal or Chile what their plans are I believe many would say that they plan to rebuild. They may seek a better way to build or how to lay a better foundation, but for many of them, they will rebuild.
The Psalmist answers his own question in the next verse. Psalm 11:4 says, "The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven." The response we can make when our foundations are shaken, and maybe evn destroyed, is that the Lord is still in control. Isaiah 6:1 says, "In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord…" When things look bleak and we aren't sure where to turn, we can turn to the Lord.
Today, as you see the devastation of the aftermath of this terrible earthquake, please be moved to pray for the people of Nepal. Believers in Jesus Christ live and serve the Lord in Nepal. Secondly, if you would like to give for the relief efforts you can go our website, fblosgatos.org and click on the "donate now" button and you will see a fund titled "Nepal Earthquake Fund." You can easily give a donation and we will be forwarding these funds to ABWE.
But, maybe more importantly, be sure to consider whether your foundations would be destroyed by unexpected trouble in your life. If your life is not built on the foundation of teh Lord Jesus Christ, then you need to correct that today. You can ask Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins and to make you one of His children. Do it today.
Mothers, fathers, children; where would we be without them? All of us reading this have a father and a mother. No one, except Jesus Christ, enters the world without benefit of a mom and a dad. Some of our moms or dads may not have been a good role model, but we could not be alive today without them. The Bible says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord.” Children are precious gifts to many married couples from our Heavenly Father. Yet, He chooses some couples to not have children. His wisdom is always best, even in these situations. But, to most of us, we have been blessed with children.
Today, some couples are getting married with the express desire to go through all of married life without children. Some do it for medical reasons. However, some simply decide that they do not want the responsibility of raising a child. They might blame the condition of the world or economic issues. But, they are robbing themselves of one of the greatest blessings God has given to married couples. Even in the difficult times, children are a blessing.
Sunday we will move forward in our study of the Book of Ephesians to chapter six verses one to four. In this section the Apostle Paul tells us how Spirit-filled children, parents and fathers will look and act like. He will lay down a number of principles for each one to demonstrate in their lives to show the world the grace of God in action. He will impress upon us how to imitate the relationship between the Son of God and His Father.
Do you know when the first Mother’s Day was celebrated in America? 1908. Do you know hen the first Father’s Day was celebrated in America? 1910. Now, do you know when the first Children’s Day was celebrated in America? 1925? NO! 1950? NO! Actually, the first Children’s Day was celebrated over 40 years before the first Mother’s Day; 1867! Before Ann Jarvis began to petition for a day to remember mothers, churches were setting aside a day to remember children. Without children a society dies. Without obedient children a society falls apart. Children are truly the future of any community of people.
Strong Christian families are needed today. Mothers are needed who love and serve the Lord and are Spirit-filled in living for Him. Fathers are needed who love and serve the Lord and are Spirit-filled in living for Him. And, children are needed who love and serve the Lord and are Spirit-filled in living for Him. The Apostle Paul will give instruction on how this can happen.
Sunday I will share 10 reasons we often raise “angry” children. Do you wonder why more and more children are going up mad at the world around them? I will list what I believe to be 10 causes for this phenomenon. This list is not inspired not exhaustive. Still, it will give us food for thought as to what we can do set our children on a course to love and serve the Lord.
