Quote - Nate Saint

"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives... and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."Nate Saint

Quote - Robert Moffat

"I have seen, at different times, the smoke of a thousand villages - villages whose people are without Christ, without God, and without hope in the world." Robert Moffat

Parenting Questions - Gotquestions.org

Here are some more helpful answers to questions about parenting!

• Does a wife have to submit to her husband?
• What are to be our top priorities in our family life?
• What does the Bible say about adoption?
• What does the Bible say about infertility?
• What does the Bible say about Christian mothers?
• What does the Bible say about Christian fathers?
• Does God expect all of us to have children?
• What does the Bible say about in-vitro fertilization?
• What does the Bible say about disciplining children?
• How do I survive trying to raise a teenager?
• What are the roles of the husband and wife in a family?
• What do I do with a rebellious child?
• What does the Bible say about being a good parent?
• What does the Bible say about caring for our old parents?
• What does the Bible say about being or using a surrogate mother?
• How do we honor an abusive parent?
• How do you balance leave and cleave with honoring your parents?
• What should a Christian parents do if they have a prodigal son (or daughter)?
• How should a Christian view ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?
• What does God have to say to single mothers?

Quote - Martin Luther

"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want." Martin Luther

Parenting Questions - Christianity Today

What answers does the Bible give to parents? Check out the link that connects you to brief answers to some of these common questions...

• I long to have children. Will God ever fulfill this dream?
• Sometimes I get upset and angry with my kids. How can I maintain a loving attitude when I'm about to explode?
• How can I nurture my child's self worth?
• How can I effectively balance my roles as parent and wife?
• How can I raise a child to be kind and considerate of others?
• How can I know what's best for my elderly parents?
• How can I tell if I'm doing a good job as a mother?
• How can I encourage my child's faith to grow?
• How can I protect my kids from negative cultural influences?
• I grieve over my child's rebellion. What should I tell him or her?
• What advice, if any, should I give my twenty-something child?
• How can I best relate to my adult child?
• How can I deal with the challenges of being a single parent?

Evaluating Charities - Giving Wisely

How many phone calls, mailings, and emails have you received this holiday season that attempted to solicit your donation for a worthwhile cause? If you are like me, you have received A LOT. So many of them sound worthwhile and effective, but there are several resources out there that can help you navigate the endless list of charities.

When giving to charities (separate from and above your church tithe/offering), there are some things to consider:

• Is it legit and approved by the Better Business Bureau?
• How much money goes towards the actual end-goal and purpose of the charity?
• How much money goes towards administration?
• How much money goes towards fundraising? (you'd be surprised the number of charities that sink 15% or more into fundraising...i.e. your donations are paying the wages of the fundraisers)
• What is its evaluation by others? (some evaluations have extensive standards for giving 'ratings' of charities)
• If it is a "Christian" charity, is there a direct connection to the Gospel in the ministries they perform?
• Is there a more effective and efficient charity in the area in which I am choosing to give?

Some resources to use:

• Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org/charity/)
• Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org/)
• American Institute of Philanthropy (http://www.charitywatch.org/)
• The website of the organization you are considering giving to

As you give it is important to consider:

• Your resources are ultimately God's and not your own. You are but a steward called to be a wise caretaker of what God has entrusted you with.
• The most important treasure you have been given to share is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ...are you sharing and giving Him to others?

Proverbs 11:24-25 "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

Matthew 10:7-8 "7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."

Ephesians 3:8 "8Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ"

1 Timothy 6:17-19 "17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

Quote - Martin Luther

"My teaching is not of doing nor of leaving undone, but of being. It is not new works done, but a new man to do them; not another life only, but another birth." Martin Luther

Study Bibles - Got One?

Do you have a favorite Bible to use? Do you have a study Bible in your collection?

Dr.Albert Mohler speaks about the use of study Bibles and recommends his three favorite ones in his blog today. Check it out HERE.

Also, here are links to previous blogs I wrote about "My Favorite Bibles" and the "ESV Bible."

An update: I think Santa has found and is bringing me an ESV Bible for Christmas

Impatient for the Lord's Return?

2 Peter 3:9-10 "9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." Do you eagerly await the return of the Lord? It is an exciting thing to think about, study, and anticipate. At the same time we must never forget the many descriptions of it by Scripture, showing how it cannot be predicted or known, but will come upon us "like a thief"; unexpected and instantaneous. One important thing to also pull out of the above passage is that God's patience towards Christ's return is so that we should have more time to preach the Good News of Christ so that "all should reach repentance." This is not a promise of universal salvation or conversion (that the coming of Christ will only occur once all are evangelized/converted/or saved), but rather a description of the fact that our work is not done. If the Lord returned today, would you be excited and joyous? If you are a Christian I expect that you would be. Do you realize though, that once He returns you will no longer have the chance to evangelize the lost and to share the Gospel with your friends and family? It is an urgent and dire circumstance that the lost are in and we must not lose sight of the opportunities that we now have to share Jesus Christ before His ultimate return.

Sheep without a Shepherd - Neglecting the Bountiful Harvest?

Matthew 9:36-38 "36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" Is your response when seeing the confused and lost masses today one of compassion? Do you understand them to be 'harassed' and 'helpless' under the attacks of Satan, who like a lion who desires to kill and destroy? Is your next response (following compassion) one of prayer and action? Do you pray and long to see more people (including ourselves) more effectively mobilized to harvesting the fruit that the Holy Spirit is preparing? This is a convicting passage for me...to more consistently respond with compassion, earnest prayer, and a longing to seize the many opportunities available for bringing others into the flock of Christ.