You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.
You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.
That's right--you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.
You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set;
Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me.
You're blessed when you stay on course... "In these words the prophet sets forth the same paradox which we met with in the commencement of the Book of Psalms. All men naturally aspire after happiness, but instead of searching for it in the right path, they resignedly prefer wandering up and down through endless by-paths, to their ruin and destruction. The Holy Spirit deservedly condemns this apathy and blindness. And but for man's cupidity, which, with brutish impetuosity, hurries him in the opposite direction, the meaning of the words would appear quite plain to him. And the further a man wanders from God, the happier does he imagine himself to be; and hence all treat, as a fable, what the Holy Spirit declares about true piety and the service of God. This is a doctrine which scarcely one among a hundred receives."
(Commentary from Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms)
"Godly Mothers"
Weekend Reading
The ideal family situation is one where there is a mother and father raising the children together. The "two-parent" plan works best. There really shouldn't be much argument about that.
However, we all know that this is, especially in our day and age, not necessarily the case. In fact, it is getting more and more rare.
What about the families where the dad is absent? Are they doomed? "Are chilren bereft of the spiritual leadership of the spiritual leadership of a father doomed to a life of failure?"
Hardly.
"A godly mother can have a powerful influence over her children even in the absence of a fully engaged dad." This is proven by the New Testament account of Timothy.
Paul reminds Timothy of his spiritual heritage in 2 Timothy 1:5. "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." There is no reference whatsoever to Timothy's father. We don't know his name; we don't even know if he was in the household at all. The fact that he isn't mentioned at all leads us to believe that he probably was not a believer. The only thing that we know about him is that he was Greek (Acts 16:1). The marriage was mixed.
Timothy's mother married outside of her faith, which was a strict violation of Jewish law. Who knows why she did this...but somewhere along the line, possibly during Paul's first "missionary journey," she became a believer.
"The silence with respect to the man of the house is deafening. Whether he was dead or alive, religious or not, Paul gives no hint that Timothy's father provided any spiritual guidance to his son."
But we do have proof that Timothy's grandmother and mother both taught him. 2 Timothy 3:15 states that he was acquainted with scripture from childhood.
There are other, extra-biblical examples of great leaders who owe much to their mothers. Augustine's father was very violent and a non-believer, while his mother was a godly, faithful Christian.
John Newton, author of the famous hymn, "Amazing Grace," was raise by a godly mother and an ungodly father.
Even Charles Spurgeon, great English pastor, makes reference to the influence his godly mother had on him, and both his father and grandfather were pastors, as well.
"The call to be a mother is a high calling indeed. Even when the home life is fraught with difficulties and challenges, a Christian mother has a great opportunity to influence her children for Christ. Her family is her mission field, and like all faithful missionaries she should trust the Lord to supply grace to meet all of the challenges as she seeks to seize all of the opportunities to impact the rising generation with the gospel."
"A Permanent Change"
Romans 5:11
Reading from the English Standard Version
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
"Our reconciliation to God is permanent and eternal." Because it was accomplished by Jesus Christ, it can never be undone. Even though we will continue to do things that are displeasing to our Father, we will never revert to a state of "divine alienation."
Our reconciliation must affect the way we live. We will not continue to live in an "absolute state of sin and rebellion." God will always continue to work to "progressively free us from sin's activity in our lives." In the midst of that ensuing struggle, however, we would do well to remember that our status in God's eyes "is always, and ever will be, based on the objective work of Christ for us as our representative and substitute."
I pray that I will always be a worthy guide to my children in terms of spiritual instruction. Even so, Father, I am very grateful for the godly influence and presence of their mother in our family. You have put together a family, Lord, that, although far from perfect, has spiritual value and is able to impart spiritual lessons to the children. I pray that we would continue to be faithful in doing this. There are great challenges in our family, but you have always helped us remain strong to deal with them. Keep us strong in your love and faith, Father.
Help me always stay on the path, Father. You have revealed the way to us, and given us all we need to follow that way. I pray that I will always remain faithful to follow that path.
I continue to lift up prayers to all who have been affected by the tragedy in Fort Hood yesterday. Comfort the victims and the families that lost loved ones yesterday.
Grace and peace, friends.