Without a Father?

There are so many of us without fathers, it almost feels like there is a missing piece of our lives...

Here is what the Bible teaches:

Psalm 68:5-6 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."

All we must do is trust in God, and He will be our Father; He will guide and direct us.

Don't Worry About Tomorrow

The more important something is to you, the more you will worry about it. This may be relationships, jobs, money, cars, etc. Now, ask yourself the question, will this matter in five years? Probably not.

What does the Bible say about worrying and anxiety?

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  NIV

Luke 12:25 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."

1 Peter 5:7 "...casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."

Hebrews 13:6 "So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."


WORRY CHALLENGE


For the next 7 days, every time you worry or have anxiety, PRAY. Talk to God continuously and "cast all your anxieties on Him".

Why worry when you can pray?

The Biblical KEY to Get Rich: Generosity

Is it a sin to be wealthy? No. 

David was a wealthy King, and was called "a man after God's own heart". His son, Solomon, asked for wisdom from God. He became the wealthiest man to ever live. Would you read a book by the wealthiest man in the world and how they were successful? Most agree that Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs.

How did they do it? 

1.  They trusted God. They knew that He would take care of them in every circumstance.



Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."

Proverbs 11:24-25 "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." -ESV

Proverbs 15:16
"Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil."

Proverbs 21:5
"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Proverbs 13:11
"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time."

Proverbs 22:2
"The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both."


2.  They were generous.


Proverbs 3:27
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them.

Proverbs 11:24
"Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything."

Proverbs 11:25
"The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."

Proverbs 19:17
"If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and He will repay you!"




Jesus also speaks of giving in Luke:

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." -ESV


The Corinthians also mention generosity:

2 Corinthians 9:6
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." - ESV


Generosity is not only a blessing for the receiver, but also the giver.