Family Day: A household that keeps the way of the Lord

The family is the pillar for every successful society. When the family system is broken or under an attack, society generally suffers from the ills and evils of adults who were not groomed and trained while they were children. Similarly,  broken homes and children born in wedlock without parental love and grooming leads to adults who have no home training. The result of this is a broken society. Considering this, it is therefore important that the family system is empowered and supported to raise good future leaders. As believers, we have been mandated by scripture to train our children in the way they should go, so that even in their old age, they will not depart from their foundational training (see Proverbs 22:6).

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”‭‭ (Genesis 18:19)

Every year since the inception of family day celebration, some nations across the world set a day aside to celebrate the family and bring together all members of the family. It is a moment where love is shared, and the parents and children spend quality time together. In Canada, some provinces celebrate the day on the third Monday of February each year. The day is given as a holiday to enable families to spend quality time together. It is a day most people feast and build family bonds. More than that, as believers, we should also consider ways to make the day a reflection of our godly parenting. God expects us to raise our children based on His standards to be godly (Malachi 2:15). Before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their ungodliness, He made a profound statement to Abraham. In sharing His intention to destroy the sinful cities, the Lord said concerning Abraham, “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”‭‭ (Genesis 18:19).

Abraham’s covenant with the Lord included him directing his children and household to obey the Lord and be a propagator of godliness. No wonder Abraham’s servant that was sent to find a wife for Isaac knew the ways of the Lord. As we celebrate family day, let’s look beyond food and all the opportunity to socialize. Let’s consider this: “Is our household keeping the way of the Lord?” If we fall short, we should look for ways and means to align our homes to the will of God. We shouldn’t abandon our spouses and children to look for their own faith while we pursue a relationship with God. We need to have the whole family serve the Lord together. If at the moment, it is not happening, continue to commit the family in the hands of the Lord and pray for opportunities for the salvation of the other members of the family. May God help us as we pursue to involve our family in our Christian journey.

As we celebrate family day, may we be reminded that the microcosm of society is the family. A broken family system results in a broken society. Let’s not merely seek to make memories of holidays. Let’s also desire to help our families keep the ways of the Lord. So help us God!

Happy Thanksgiving 🇨🇦 October 2022

We should be intentional about our Thanksgiving to God. The fact that you have strength to eat your turkey should remind you to be grateful. Don’t compare your kitchen with others. You might not have all it takes to host a bigger Thanksgiving lunch, but you have enough to provide for yourself and your family. Others have nothing to eat. Others will spend the whole day crying for not having anyone to celebrate with. Still, others will be on the street begging to survive. If we have a roof over our heads, food on our table and peace of mind, we should be thankful to God for His provision.

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Thanksgiving: He is good and His love endures forever

Another Thanksgiving Day is here again in Canada and for most people, it is about eating and having family and friends coming over. I imagine the homeless and those living on their own, it might be a lonely time for them. For most people, to have the best Thanksgiving Day means to get the best turkey and all the accessories that come with it. For some people, Thanksgiving is about belly satisfaction; for others, it is about pleasing family and friends and for few others,  it reminds them that they are alone. What is your plan for Thanksgiving? Did you have an advance Thanksgiving celebration? Is your turkey in the oven already? What are you Thankful for on this day?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalms 107:1)

Holidays and celebrations are good periods for us to reminisce about the love of God and show it to the world. We should be intentional about our Thanksgiving to God. The fact that you have strength to eat your turkey should remind you to be grateful. Don’t compare your kitchen with others. You might not have all it takes to host a bigger Thanksgiving lunch, but you have enough to provide for yourself and your family. Others have nothing to eat. Others will spend the whole day crying for not having anyone to celebrate with. Still, others will be on the street begging to survive. If we have a roof over our heads, food on our table and peace of mind, we should be thankful to God for His provision. Today, let’s join the Psalmist and celebrate the goodness of God with Psalms 47.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” (Psalms 107:1‭-‬43 NIV)

Happy Thanksgiving Day, be happy, be grateful and be content!

Happy Thanksgiving 🇨🇦

Happy Thanksgiving 🇨🇦

Praying for Governments is our responsibility!

Imagine waking up to a very loud bomb blast and seeing people running helter skelter. The atmosphere might be unpleasant and if you are not physically strong to flee, the confusion alone can make you disoriented. This is actually the lives many people face all over the world. Unstable Governments, evil dictators and militia have caused nations to live in perpetual fear and caused citizens of such nations to become refugees in other countries. Most of us live in peaceful nations and we tend to take for granted the essence of living in a country that is stable. Without stability and peace, we cannot worship God in peace and raise godly homes. It is therefore important for us to be agents of peace. 

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.(1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬2)

As someone who has lived in 4 different countries and visited over a dozen, I do not take for granted the role of peace in nations. My family relocated to Canada over a year ago and we are thankful for God for the peace of the nation. Today, (July 1st) is Canada Day and my family is celebrating the faithfulness of God upon the nation. In fact, praying for the government in Canada and every other nation is our mandate. If we fail to pray for the government and people in authority, our peace is at stake. Paul admonishes us in 1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬2 as follows: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” We should pray all sorts of prayers for the sustenance of our governments. 

We should pray petition prayers: asking for God’s help. We should pray intercession prayers: praying on behalf of others. We should pray thanksgiving prayers: showing gratitude for God’s providence. We should pray and pray until we see improvement,  change, growth and success in our nations. Praying for Governments should be intentional: we don’t need to feel like praying before we pray. When we are intentional in praying for all people: for kings and all those in authority (Governments), we are seeking for our peace. Paul said that, “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” when we pray for Governments. Every ungodly decision made by people in authority affects the family system. If we don’t pray, we willfully make room for legislation and statutes that jeopardize our families and homes. 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Dear God, we pray for our nation. We pray for all those in authority. We pray for godly wisdom to govern and to make decisions that do not put our faith in jeopardy and destabilize the family system. We pray that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. In the name of Jesus Christ we have prayed.  Amen