Participants:
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000098A
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00:39 Hello and welcome to Behold the Lamb Presents.
00:41 I'm Chris Shelton, your host, 00:43 and we're just overjoyed 00:45 that you've tuned into study with us today. 00:48 You know, we've been going through this Bible study guide, 00:52 and it is entitled 00:53 "Sharing God's Love Makes You Happier, 00:56 What the Bible Says. 00:57 And our dear friend and brother in the Lord, 01:00 Brother Richard Bland of United Prison Ministries 01:03 put this pamphlet together 01:05 and it is full of 25 Bible studies 01:08 that we're going to be distributing 01:10 as we do these lessons with you. 01:12 And today's lesson is number six 01:15 and it is entitled 01:16 "Survival Tips for Single Parenting." 01:21 You know, in today's world we live in a society, 01:25 it seems like every year 01:26 divorce is becoming more and more prevalent. 01:29 In fact, many times people are choosing to have a family 01:33 and they're not getting married at all 01:35 and that way if they want to separate, 01:36 they just separate, 01:38 and usually there's one parent, it could be a female, 01:40 usually we think of the female. 01:42 But oftentimes 01:44 it's the male that is left raising the children alone. 01:48 You know, we have wars, we have sickness, 01:50 we have accidents 01:52 and many times 01:53 that single parent feels overwhelmed 01:56 trying to make a living, trying to raise these children, 02:00 especially if they come 02:01 or they've been in the admonition of the Lord 02:04 and they're looking for hope, 02:07 they're looking for strength. 02:08 And today, 02:09 I believe we are going to find it in the Word of God. 02:13 Let me share one passage with you. 02:15 It's found in Isaiah and it's Isaiah 41:10, 02:20 and it reads, 02:22 "Fear not, for I am with thee. 02:25 Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. 02:28 I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, 02:31 yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand 02:34 of my righteousness." 02:37 That verse alone is powerful 02:40 and what I'll hope that you are learning 02:41 as you study along with us here at Behold the Lamb presents. 02:45 I hope you're learning to put your hand 02:47 to those precious promises of God 02:50 and claim them as yours. 02:52 Isaiah 41:10 is yours. 02:55 If you are a single parent, 02:57 even if you are not a single parent, 02:59 we need to be claiming these wonderful promises. 03:02 But before we hear Pastor Kenny Sheldon, 03:04 as he begins to give us 03:06 and expand upon this lesson today, 03:09 we're gonna go to the 3ABN Worship Center 03:13 and listen to Brother Lynden Carriger 03:15 as he sings "My help." 03:35 I will lift up mine eyes to the hills 03:40 From whence cometh my help 03:44 My help cometh from the Lord 03:48 The Lord, who made heaven and earth 03:53 He said he will not suffer thy foot 03:58 Thy foot to be moved 04:02 The Lord which keep thee 04:07 He will not slumber nor sleep 04:11 For the Lord is thy keeper 04:15 The Lord is thy shade 04:20 Upon thy right hand 04:24 Upon thy right hand 04:29 No the sun shall not smite thee by day 04:35 Nor the moon by night 04:38 He shall preserve thy soul 04:43 Even for evermore 04:50 My help 04:54 My help 04:58 My help 05:01 All of my help cometh from the Lord 05:22 I will lift up mine eyes to the hills 05:28 From whence cometh my help 05:31 My help cometh from the Lord 05:36 The Lord, who made heaven and earth 05:40 He said he will not suffer thy foot 05:46 Thy foot to be moved 05:49 The Lord which keep thee 05:54 He will not slumber nor sleep 05:58 For the Lord is thy keeper 06:02 The Lord is thy shade 06:07 Upon thy right hand 06:11 upon thy right hand 06:16 For the sun shall not smite thee by day 06:21 Nor the moon by night 06:25 He shall preserve thy soul 06:29 Even for evermore 06:36 My help 06:40 My help My help 06:47 All of my help cometh from the Lord 06:54 My help My help 07:01 My help 07:05 All of my help cometh from the Lord 07:14 My help 07:19 My help 07:24 All of my help cometh from the Lord 07:35 The Lord 07:42 All of my help cometh from the Lord 07:57 Thank you for joining us once again at Behold the Lamb. 08:00 As you've already heard the subject for today, 08:02 and it's very, very interesting subject 08:04 because we're looking at something 08:06 that's need to be talked about. 08:07 We're talking about survival tips 08:09 for a single parenting. 08:11 That's kind of an interesting subject, 08:13 but I pray that as we go along in the study, 08:16 we will see the necessity 08:18 of being able to address different ones 08:20 who are facing issues in the world today 08:23 that they feel that in the song which he was talking about, 08:27 feeling we are alone. 08:28 Sometimes we feel like there's no one to help us, 08:31 and we're going to find out in God's Word 08:33 some of these tips are very good 08:34 based upon God's Word. 08:36 But always before we get in to the Word, 08:38 we always like to pray. 08:39 Once again, we're inviting those of you at home, 08:41 thank you again for your cards, your letters, 08:43 your phone calls and everything that you do. 08:45 We appreciate you so very much, continue to pray for us, 08:47 we need it here. 08:49 I'm going to kneel right now and have prayer, 08:50 and those of you at home and here, 08:52 kneel with me if you can in this prayer, shall we? 08:57 Merciful Father in heaven, 08:59 again we just ask Your anointing 09:00 upon the Word today. 09:01 We pray for the power of Thy Holy Spirit, 09:03 how desperately we need the Spirit of the living God. 09:06 We realize that 09:07 spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 09:09 We can't understand the Word without Your Spirit. 09:11 So we pray that You'll open our ears, 09:13 our hearts and our minds and, 09:15 Lord, may they be a Word spoken in due season, 09:17 only You can do it, you know, 09:18 where there are millions of people in this situation 09:21 that we will be talking about today 09:22 that needs a special touch and, 09:24 Lord, that all of us need that special touch. 09:26 We need to be reminded of who you are, 09:28 and that You're coming back soon, 09:30 and sometime the situations are very, very rough 09:33 and we need some special help. 09:34 So today we pray in the name of Jesus, 09:38 as the Holy Spirit now is sent upon 09:40 each and every one of us 09:41 that we may be still and know of our God. 09:43 We gonna thank You in advance 09:45 for what You're going to do in Jesus' name, amen. 09:47 Amen. 09:50 You know, in this world that we're living 09:51 we talk about... 09:53 I think every day as you go back and forth to work, 09:55 whatever you do or people that you work with. 09:57 There are those who are single parents, 10:00 and we've to realize today those who are as single parent 10:03 are going through many, many difficult situations, 10:07 much more difficult than 10:08 if you have somebody to help you. 10:10 I think most of us can agree with that. 10:12 And that's why I think in this subject, 10:14 remember God approaches all these subjects 10:17 and He has the answer to them, so as we're talking about, 10:20 how does a single mom or dad survive in this world? 10:25 What are some of the tips? 10:26 Where do we go in the Word of God 10:28 to find out that God cares about the single parent, 10:31 cares about the children? 10:33 And He has answers to these needs. 10:36 So as we look at these things today, we pray... 10:38 And I'm gonna give you some statistics. 10:41 Now, these are not necessarily my thinking, 10:43 but there's statistics taken 10:44 from thousands of different people. 10:47 Several different studies and see what they come up with 10:51 when you're talking about single parenting 10:53 and what it represents. 10:55 If you look, 10:57 and I'm going to look at in today definition, 10:59 you say, "Well, that's very simple 11:01 the definition of a single parent." 11:03 But just kind of listen to what it says here, 11:05 "A single parent is a parent that raises a child 11:10 without the other parent support." 11:11 Does that make sense so far? 11:13 Yes. 11:14 Now the single parent then has all the responsibility. 11:18 We are talking about the financial support, 11:21 we are talking about material things, 11:23 we are talking about emotional issues. 11:25 They have full control as it were of that child. 11:29 So single parenting has really put, 11:30 it has a lot of responsibility 11:33 that just one person shoulders rather than situation 11:36 where two shoulder it. 11:38 Now, what are the causes, 11:39 the causes of single parenting? 11:41 Well, there are many, certainly we can look at 11:44 but number one, maybe someone is widowed. 11:47 You know, maybe the other one happen to pass away 11:49 or it could be that may be there is a divorce, 11:52 and mom and dad separates, 11:54 and that's what make a single parenting 11:56 or as we mentioned by death 11:58 we became maybe a single parent, 12:00 or could just simply we're single parent 12:01 because we're just not married. 12:03 So there are just different issues 12:04 that we'll come with we look at that says, 12:06 okay, we are a single parent. 12:08 Notice today, 12:10 there's nothing necessarily wrong 12:11 with the single parent. 12:12 So the things that we talk about here, 12:14 let's not look and start feel like, 12:15 oh, somebody is. 12:17 Let's look at the issues, 12:18 because there is help in God's Word, 12:19 and all that needs to be accomplished 12:21 can be accomplished as we look to Him. 12:24 If we look to the world, we're in trouble, 12:27 you know. 12:28 Give me some statistics here, how many people you think 12:30 parents are single in the world today? 12:33 They have children, but they are just single parents. 12:35 What do you think they are? 12:36 In the United States today, 12:38 if we look today in the United States, 12:40 there are about 13.5 million single parents. 12:45 That's a lot of single parents, isn't it? 12:47 Over 13.5 million, so they're not alone, 12:50 so the subject matter is prevalent for today 12:53 and the society that we live in 12:54 because there is a time of what? 12:56 Trouble coming upon this world 12:59 that as whether you've two or three in a family, 13:01 five or ten whatever it might be, 13:03 we need help, 13:04 and we need special help. 13:06 And so God gives that to us in His Word. 13:08 But if you look 13.5 million single parents, 13:11 that's quite a bit in my estimation here. 13:14 America almost make up about 65% of all families 13:18 with children under the age of 18. 13:21 So I gave you some statistics as we look at, 13:23 but you notice in 1950... 13:25 We're comparing today with 1950. 13:28 Ninety-three percent 13:30 there was a mom and dad in 1950. 13:34 Things have really changed, you know, 13:37 in this world that we're living, 13:38 and enemy is out to make changes, 13:41 and so that we cannot find our way to God. 13:43 We cannot find our way in the world 13:45 that he wants to work on our children. 13:48 He wants to work on parents, 13:51 whether it's single or both mom and dad 13:53 because he can destroy the home that way. 13:56 Bible gives them certainly some good news for us today. 14:00 If you could guess today, 14:02 what is the highest percentage of single parenting? 14:05 What country would it be that has the highest rate? 14:10 As you said, United States of America 14:13 has the highest rate of single parenting. 14:15 Not too far from someone in second, 14:18 United States is 25.8 %. 14:21 That's quite a bit, isn't it? 14:23 And Ireland is 24.3%. 14:27 New Zealand is 23.7%. 14:30 Canada is 22%. 14:32 U.K is 21.5%. 14:35 So we see they're not far apart, 14:37 excuse me, 14:39 but interesting, 14:40 United States is leading out in this. 14:43 Why might that be? 14:45 Maybe United States has more to offer, 14:47 maybe there's more side track issues, 14:49 maybe there is other lot of things going on 14:51 that maybe it's not happening in other countries, 14:53 but nevertheless that is the statistic 14:55 we have to look at. 14:56 Twenty-two percent, keep this in mind as we study, 14:59 22% people of the United States single parent household... 15:04 Listen carefully, they're white. 15:07 How many percent? 15:08 Twenty-two percent 15:10 of single parent households are white. 15:13 Fifty-seven percent are African-American. 15:17 Thirty-three percent, Hispanic. 15:20 These are things we just have to look at, 15:22 these are statistics, these are things 15:23 that you can find on your internet 15:25 or you can look up on different things. 15:27 But these are just statistics everyone is looking at 15:29 and what is the problem? 15:31 The problem is, it's expanding, it's increasing and it's going, 15:34 and we need to have answers. 15:36 Answers as it, is there an answer 15:38 in the Word of God to help us 15:40 or help to survive the single parent to survive. 15:43 And I think that's what we're looking at 15:45 because I'm looking at self surviving. 15:48 Almost feel like that we are in a war, don't you? 15:51 Whether you're married, whether you're not, 15:52 whether you're single, whether you're married. 15:53 It seems like we are in a battle, 15:56 and the battle for the mind, 15:57 and the battle just to get by in this world. 16:00 Now, again these are some statistics 16:02 we need to look at here, Wikipedia. 16:05 You can go there and look at some of these, 16:06 this is what I'll be kind of reading from here 16:08 and just, well, you know, all these statistics. 16:11 And here is the question, 16:12 "Does a single parent family affect a child?" 16:16 That is very interesting I think a legitimate question. 16:19 Can it? Yes, it can. Does it? 16:20 Well, we would have to see how this goes. 16:22 Notice, it says that single parent... 16:26 Notice this, a family, 16:27 single parent now have economic hardships. 16:30 You see, it's little different, there's two in the family 16:32 and you have two incomes. 16:33 Isn't that right? 16:35 Makes it little easier right there. 16:36 If there is just mama or just daddy 16:38 trying to raise the family, 16:39 it makes it very difficult because what? 16:40 You have just one income here. 16:44 It's more difficult this... 16:47 As they sent this survey out, it was more difficult 16:50 for single mothers to get by 16:51 than it is for single man to get by. 16:55 So childhood poverty 16:57 is the number one negative factor. 17:00 Although children with both parents, 17:02 there is no exception just going to happen, 17:03 there's going to be problems there too. 17:05 But notice this what the study said, 17:08 it says, "The single parent with children, 17:11 the children sometime are more... 17:13 Now this doesn't happen to be in your life or anyone else, 17:15 because there's difference 17:16 in Christians and non-Christians 17:18 as far as I'm concerned. 17:19 Those who lean on Christ and those who do not, 17:21 but there's more depression, 17:24 you see, in children who just have one parent. 17:27 That's kind of interesting what the statistics says, 17:30 behavioral disorders is what they say here in survey 17:33 are high among single parental situations. 17:37 Now there's a debate, so we say, okay, 17:39 this is, okay, oh, they're having trouble 17:41 because they are single parent. 17:42 But notice the debate on the other side, 17:45 whether a parent is alive, or just absent, 17:49 or even just deceased, notice it says, 17:52 you have to raise your child, notice, 17:56 in the admonition of the Lord. 17:58 We must to do that in order to have success, 18:01 you know, the way that you raise them 18:03 determines the outcome. 18:05 Does that make sense? 18:06 What does the Bible say? 18:07 Proverbs 22:6, it says, "Raise up," what? 18:11 A child. 18:12 "A child in the way he should go, 18:13 and when he is old, he shall, will not be depart from here." 18:17 So the Bible doesn't says specifically 18:19 because you're a single parent or whatever it might be, 18:21 your child's not going to turn out. 18:22 The Bible doesn't say that. 18:24 Now human statistics 18:25 and things that they write down numbers might indicate, 18:29 but the Bible says, here's a good plus for us 18:31 that you train up the child whether they be 1, 2 or 20, 18:34 you train them up in the way that they should go 18:37 and when they're old, they'll not depart from that. 18:39 That's good news for single, or double, or triple, 18:43 or whatever it might be, 18:44 that's good news as far as I'm concerned. 18:47 Is there stress in parenting whether again one or two? 18:52 There is stress. 18:54 All time there is stress 18:55 because we're worried about certain things. 18:58 We've been through them ourselves, 18:59 and we understand what might be before them, 19:01 and we don't want them to go 19:03 through what we may be have went through. 19:05 And so we have some worries there, 19:07 even though we have to turn to God, 19:09 He'll help us with that. 19:10 But in their study, 19:11 they listed some ways to reduce stress. 19:15 Now if you want to reduce your stress 19:17 in raising a child, 19:18 notice this, some of them make pretty good sense to me, 19:21 and I can see that lot of is biblical here. 19:23 Number one, it says show love. 19:26 Well, that's pretty simple, isn't it? 19:28 It should be easy to love our children, 19:30 isn't that right? 19:31 But again the children, 19:32 they sense they need maybe more love 19:35 if there's a single parenting. 19:36 They need to know that, 19:38 you know that it's not their fault 19:39 or they need to know that, 19:41 you know that you're embracing them, 19:43 you care about them, you're encouraging them. 19:45 Number two, create a routine, way to, you know, 19:50 get the stress level down in the home 19:52 if you're single parent is routines are good, 19:56 because the child will know then what to expect 19:58 and not will always causing in your situation. 20:00 That means regular meals, that means regular bed times 20:05 and certainly correction, notice this, what does it do? 20:08 It simply helps the child to know what to expect. 20:13 We're no different then that as adults, 20:14 is that true? 20:17 If I'm going somewhere or my job, 20:19 I want to know what is expected of me. 20:23 That helps us to get by, that reduces the stress. 20:25 Because If I don't know I'm on job, the guy said, 20:27 "Just go do this." 20:28 I don't know what he means, what to do what? 20:30 How much work I'm supposed to do. 20:32 So the child being raised up, 20:34 if they have regular bed time, regular meal time 20:37 and certainly correction at the right time. 20:39 You see, they will say okay, they know what to expect. 20:43 I don't want to compare children 20:45 to dogs or animals, 20:46 we know better than that. 20:48 But you know, even in animal, a dog, 20:49 they will know when you go, when it's treat time. 20:52 They know what to expect and what to do many times 20:54 to be able to get that treat. 20:56 And so we know that even in children, 20:58 certainly much higher than that. 20:59 But you can train them in a way that they should go. 21:03 Number three, it says, find quality child care. 21:07 If you want to reduce the stress, I mean, 21:09 you can't just throw your child out 21:10 to anything on anybody and expect them to come back. 21:13 I won't mess if I'd say normal. 21:16 Stress, give them somebody to care 21:17 but if you don't know who they are, 21:19 what they're going to instill on them. 21:21 And so there's going to be stress, 21:22 if we don't know this individual 21:24 who is taking care of your valuable asset 21:27 of your children. 21:28 Notice that, find quality child care. 21:30 And then they say, 21:31 very, very important is single parenting 21:33 is to set limits. 21:36 Think about it, set limits. 21:38 This is what we do, this is far as we go 21:40 and this is it. 21:41 And that way you are not always pushed 21:43 into doing more and giving more 21:44 or whatever it might be, set limits. 21:47 Another interesting point 21:49 is not just the child is involved, 21:50 but it says take care of yourself. 21:53 The parent needs to learn to take care of themselves, 21:56 have quality time and sometime time alone 21:59 and time out from the situation. 22:01 So make sure to take care of yourself, 22:03 that way you will be take care of things at home. 22:05 And number six, they said, stay positive. 22:08 So I like that, stay positive... 22:10 If you don't stay positive, I guarantee the children will, 22:13 they'll catch that. 22:15 Their attitude will be what they see around the house. 22:18 And so we stay as positive as we can, 22:20 but it's very difficult 22:21 I think in this world that we live in 22:23 to stay positive 22:24 unless we have God in our corner. 22:26 How can you be positive if you don't know God 22:28 and the promises of His Word? 22:31 Another parenting tips as it were, 22:33 and these are familiar, you know, it's kind of same 22:35 as what we just went through. 22:37 But this is actually from the Mayo Clinic, 22:39 you know, it's pretty well known, 22:41 you know, for every different, different area in disarray, 22:44 or the Mayo Clinic says this, 22:46 "Child rearing can be difficult under any circumstances." 22:50 Is that true? 22:52 Yeah, in any circumstances, notice this, 22:55 without a partner the stakes are higher. 22:59 So single parenting, the stakes are higher 23:01 because you don't have the help that you might ordinarily have. 23:05 Two, being a single parent, notice this, 23:09 can result in added pressure. 23:11 So some of you as single parents, 23:12 you might feel that there is added pressure 23:15 because there is no one may be you can talk to 23:17 or no one that can help you, 23:19 or we call extra set of hands and mind around. 23:22 But there's pressure, there's stress 23:25 and there can be fatigue 23:27 in raising children by yourself. 23:29 If you're too tired, the Mayo Clinic says, 23:32 "And you're too distracted, all of the sudden 23:35 you become emotionally separated 23:38 from your child and maybe even from yourself." 23:40 That's interesting. 23:41 And they say, "If you do this, 23:43 behavioral problems can occur with your children." 23:46 So interesting, number three, Mayo Clinic says, 23:49 "Be a parental role model for your child." 23:53 You know, to me that would be good biblical sound here 23:55 is that we all need to be role models for one another. 23:58 We need to represent Jesus, don't we? 24:00 I mean, how can we tell the children, you know, 24:02 well, this is what we need to do 24:03 and you're doing the opposite all the time. 24:05 You know, don't do as I do, do as I tell you. 24:10 That doesn't work. 24:12 Any of you ever heard that, maybe in home, 24:13 don't do as I do, do as I tell you to do. 24:15 No, the best thing is to set the right example, 24:18 the children will see that, 24:20 and then they will be more willing 24:21 to follow that example. 24:24 Number four, Mayo Clinic says, 24:25 "You need to set aside specific time 24:27 to play with your children, 24:28 especially if you're single parent." 24:30 Set aside some specific time, doesn't say how long 24:32 and that certainly be up to each individual. 24:35 But remember, we're talking about stress, 24:37 stress will affect us in our spiritual conditions 24:42 that we're conditioning. 24:43 So we need to realize, we need to reduce all of that 24:45 so that we may focus more 24:47 on the spiritual matters and aspects of life 24:50 because if we're estranged as we were 24:52 and we're separated, you know, from one another, 24:54 we're gonna be separated from God. 24:56 We're separated from God, we're separated from others. 24:58 Number five, they say, "Explain house rules." 25:02 So to reduce stress there's rules in the house. 25:05 Anybody have rules in your home? 25:08 Now if you don't, you need that. 25:09 Okay, it's good, the house rules. 25:11 Teach them to speak respectfully 25:14 and enforce it. 25:15 That will reduce stress, won't it? 25:17 It's not always, I'm always hollering at them, 25:20 I'm always on to them, "Mama, papa," 25:22 all the time going on. 25:23 You've a set of rules there 25:25 and you teach them to be respectful of you 25:29 and then you enforce it. 25:30 Number six, same as the other, say stay positive. 25:34 "Give your child, age appropriate duties to do". 25:38 You know, you have a five-year-old child, 25:40 don't give them 10 year old duties, 25:42 you know, somebody is 10 year old. 25:44 Age appropriate and then they learn to be 25:46 able to do take those responsibilities 25:49 and then, you know, 25:50 lot of people take a little child 25:52 and they try to treat like an adult, 25:53 you know, that's not... 25:55 They got to have time to grow up. 25:56 In the Book of Isaiah 41:10, 25:59 for those who want stress to be reduced, 26:01 you want be able to get by, you want to know 26:03 that you're not left by yourself 26:05 because you're single parent. 26:06 Isaiah 41:10, 26:08 to me it gives an amazing, amazing, amazing promise here. 26:12 Isaiah 41:10, notice what it says, 26:16 this fits for all of us. 26:17 It starts out, it says, fear thou what? 26:20 "Fear thou not, for I am with thee." 26:23 Do what? 26:25 First thing God says, you know what, 26:26 because being in this world can be fearful, 26:30 and then all the responsibilities of job, 26:32 and relationships, and marriage. 26:35 You don't have a mate you can call, 26:37 we talk about stress 26:38 and God simply says look, "Fear not." 26:41 "Fear thou not, for I am with thee." 26:45 When you even feel alone, you're not alone 26:47 because the Word says so, 26:49 it says, "I am with thee, be not dismayed." 26:51 Don't get dishearten, "for I am thy God." 26:55 What a beautiful promise! 26:56 Don't get down. Don't get out. 26:58 Don't give up because I am what? 27:01 I'm going to be with you. 27:02 He is the encourager, remember, He's one who gives us strength. 27:05 He said "I will strengthen thee, 27:07 yea, I will help thee, 27:09 yea, I will uphold thee 27:11 with the right hand of my righteousness." 27:14 What a promise if you just dissect it, 27:17 if you had time just a sec, just dissect. 27:20 The promises that are in this passage of scripture, 27:23 for every one of us, notice that, you no fear, 27:26 I'm going to be with you. 27:28 Don't be dismayed, I'm going to strengthen you. 27:30 I'm going to help you. 27:32 I'm going to uphold you. 27:33 What more do we really need? 27:35 The world may not uphold you. 27:37 The world may not be, 27:38 you know, give you strength, 27:40 but God says, "I will." 27:42 The world may be frightful to see 27:44 what's happening in the world, 27:45 but God said, "No, you don't have to be afraid. 27:48 I'm going to be right there with you." 27:49 I think that's beautiful. But, you know what? 27:52 Think about this, 27:54 if you try it on your own, you'll fail. 27:58 If I try it on my own, 28:00 I'm going to fail regardless of what it is. 28:02 We may think that we're winning, 28:04 but we will fail, 28:06 we shall surely fail, you know. 28:08 If we put our hope in our self and lot of people do. 28:12 We are building on sand and, 28:15 you know what the Bible talks about sand? 28:16 You remember the foolish man in Matthew 7:27, 28:20 what did the wise men built on? The rock, right? 28:23 And the foolish men built on sand. 28:27 And these are the same thing here, 28:28 we can be wise or we can be foolish, 28:31 and it makes a difference 28:32 how the outcome certainly is going to be. 28:35 We need a good foundation, think about it, 28:39 in the home, in the church, 28:42 at the workplace we must have a good foundation 28:45 or we are going to be in trouble. 28:47 We are going to find when the rains come 28:49 and the winds blow, what's going to happen? 28:53 We are seeing that on the news lately in California, right? 28:57 All of a sudden, all the rain and all the stuff happens 28:59 and what happened? 29:00 Here comes those big old boulders, 29:02 we're looking at cars being tossed around 29:03 and smash stuff, it's horrible. 29:05 There's lives that are lost, houses completely destroyed, 29:08 lives destroyed. 29:09 This is just one little area here, 29:12 but because of what? 29:13 Is really where their built. 29:14 There might be with or without a good foundation 29:16 but the area there 29:17 is potential to these kind of hazards. 29:20 We need to think about that even in our spiritual life, 29:23 single, whether you're single parent or not, 29:26 all of us must have a sure, firm foundation. 29:30 This is what's so important in the house, 29:32 not whether to make that basically one or two, 29:35 or three or four, or whatever it might be, 29:38 but how is your foundation? 29:40 Is it secured in Jesus Christ? 29:43 You know, where there is hope and where there is strength 29:46 is where we need to be thinking of 29:47 and building on. 29:49 Isaiah 28:16 says, notice this. 29:51 I like this, Isaiah 28:16, "Behold, I lay in Zion..." 29:56 These are familiar passages. 29:58 "Behold I" do what? 30:00 "Lay in Zion for a foundation a stone," 30:03 oh, I liked that, "a tried stone, 30:07 a precious corner stone, 30:09 a sure foundation," don't you like that? 30:12 "He that believeth shall not make haste." 30:15 So we have to ask our self no more are we a believer, 30:18 are you a believer today? 30:21 See, to be a believer here that means 30:23 we see that we have a foundation. 30:26 We have a tried stone, we have a corner stone, 30:29 we have a sure foundation the Bible said, 30:32 and if you believe 30:33 you are not going to make haste, nothing, ha. 30:35 You know, what that simply means. 30:37 You are not going to act too quickly. 30:40 You know, as a Christian, or single or parent, 30:42 whatever it might be, we want to make sure 30:43 we don't in a situation act too quickly. 30:46 We get our self into trouble, we are not thinking it through, 30:48 we are not praying about it. 30:50 It also means to be ready. 30:52 We need to be ready for whatever comes our way, 30:54 we need to be prayed up, 30:55 we need to be steadied up and ready 30:58 because the enemy is sure as I stand here 31:00 is gonna throw something at you. 31:02 He's gonna throw something at you 31:04 and most generally it's your own family. 31:06 It could be your own children, those who are closest to you 31:09 will cause sometime lot of grief. 31:11 The enemy is working just that way 31:13 and we have to be ready. 31:15 We need that good foundation to be ready. 31:20 It talks about there, we need to be excited. 31:22 That's what the words don't make haste, 31:24 but we need to be excited about what's going on in the world 31:27 and excited that we can be a part 31:29 of what's going on in the world today. 31:31 Now remember, regardless of what kind of family 31:34 you have, we can be involved in the Lord's work. 31:38 What else are we to be involved in? 31:40 We are to be involved in the Lord's work, 31:42 that's what it's all about. 31:43 Isaiah 45:22 is another precious promise. 31:47 I'm talking about precious 45:22, 31:50 Jesus simply says, "Look unto me..." 31:53 Come on, somebody. 31:54 What does it say? Jesus says, look into who? 31:59 It's not trying to be disrespectful, 32:00 not look to Mayo Clinic, not look to Wikipedia, 32:03 you know, what it might be, we'll not look at all that, 32:05 we'll look at what Jesus simply says, 32:07 don't look at the pastor, don't be looking at teller, 32:09 don't be looking at what? 32:10 Look to me, Jesus says. 32:12 I love that, "Look unto me, and be ye saved..." 32:15 There's no other way, there's no other name 32:17 given among men whereby we're what? 32:19 Must be saved in the name of Jesus. 32:22 This will always be in any situation 32:25 we want to get by in this world, 32:26 and to get by we must have Jesus. 32:29 This is what it's all about. 32:30 It's not doing what a bunch of men 32:32 got together and say, if we do this, 32:33 it's all gonna work out. We must have Jesus on our side. 32:37 We must be willing to obey that which He has laid out for us 32:40 in order for Him to bless the way that He wants to bless. 32:44 "Look unto me, and be ye," I love it, 32:46 "saved, all the ends of the earth: 32:50 for I am God, and there is" what? 32:53 "There's none else." 32:54 God looks round the universe, 32:56 He said, "I don't know of any other gods, 32:57 I'm the only one. 32:59 You might think there is other God's, 33:00 there may be wood, and stubble, and hay, 33:02 whatever it might be, 33:03 but I am the only one around here. 33:05 I'm the king of the universe, 33:07 and I see that there is none other. 33:09 You want to be saved, Jesus says, 33:11 "Look unto me, and be ye saved." 33:13 It's interesting, the new English Bible translation. 33:17 Sometime I go and I compare different translations 33:20 back and forth to see, it doesn't change the whole lot 33:22 but the last part of that, 33:24 "For I am God, and there is none else." 33:25 New English Bible reads this way, 33:27 says this way, "Look unto me, and be saved." 33:30 Okay, I like that, that's positive. 33:32 "You peoples from all corners of the earth, " 33:35 kind of interesting. 33:37 He says from every corner, 33:38 every nook and cranny around the world, 33:40 the only way what, you gonna be saved 33:42 is to look to me. 33:43 It doesn't change because you're in a different country. 33:46 As it where God's Word doesn't change 33:48 because you go in another country. 33:50 You know, we look at that Bible 33:52 is for every person on the face of this planet. 33:55 And I notice some time we go different countries, 33:57 they'll say, well, in this country, 33:58 here is what we do as well. 34:00 This is what we do. 34:02 What does the Word say? 34:03 This is what we do. 34:05 It's for everybody, "be ye saved, 34:06 all the corners of the earth" is encouraging. 34:09 Hebrews 13:5, notice what the Bible says, 34:13 "let your conversation," Now remember, 34:16 these passages are geared to those who are wanting 34:19 to survive the stress of being a single parent. 34:24 Now again, of a household and again, 34:26 we just comfort all together 34:27 if you want to be able to survive 34:29 and I'm looking to survive as it were to a life 34:32 better than this one, and I want to make it. 34:34 Hebrews 13:5 and 6 and more verses, 34:37 but notice this, let your conversation, 34:39 I want to be blessed of God, 34:41 I want less stress I want to make it, 34:42 I'm a single parent, I'm fighting it 34:44 and I'm working hard, 34:45 I don't know what else to do. 34:46 I can't do anymore, 34:48 there's no more time left to do. 34:49 I'm stressed out, I think I'm going to go to pieces. 34:51 I think, I'm gonna have a nervous breakdown. 34:53 I don't think I can go on any longer any more. 34:57 Lord even kind of encourages us, 34:59 He stands out, wait a minute here, 35:01 let's let your conversation. 35:03 See some time when we begin to talk doubt 35:06 and we begin to talk fear, 35:07 and we begin to talk about all the downsides of things 35:10 that we think are we get down. 35:13 He said, "Let's talk about your conversation, 35:15 your conversations need to be without covetousness, 35:18 number one. 35:19 And then he says to me, and I know He says this to you, 35:22 I want you to be content with such things as you have..." 35:28 Very difficult in this world 35:29 because there's so many things out there, 35:31 and we like lot of those things out there 35:34 but He said, learn to be content 35:37 with the things that you have 35:39 for he saith, I will, oh! 35:41 I like this one, I will never leave thee or what? 35:45 For safety how often we quote that passage. 35:48 See when you are crawling around as it were 35:51 or a nighttime when the children are sleeping, 35:53 maybe you are wide awake 35:54 because you are worried about what's gonna take place. 35:56 You're worried about how you're going to be taking care of? 35:58 How you're going to take care of them? 36:00 Notice what He says, Hebrews 13:5 and 6, 36:03 He says "I will never leave you, 36:05 I will never forsake you..." 36:07 That is a promise. 36:08 Even if you don't know 36:10 what's going on in the next minute, 36:11 and you don't and I don't. 36:13 But I what? I have claimed 36:15 that promise many, many times and I know you have too. 36:19 He said, I don't know, it looks like a mess, 36:21 looks like going down the tube and then He comes to my mind, 36:24 "Kenny, I'll never leave and I'll never forsake you." 36:26 But, you know, I believe Brother Mark, 36:27 that's conditional. 36:29 He's always gonna be there but what can He do? 36:32 Is it possible to tie God's hands? 36:35 Yeah, we'd say that respectfully. 36:38 Yeah, if we're not doing what we know is right 36:42 that ties God's hands 36:43 from doing what He wants to do for us. 36:45 Think about, it limits God, does it not? 36:47 Sure it does. 36:49 He said, "But I'll never leave you or forsake, 36:51 I'm there for you, call upon me, I'll answer." 36:53 Notice that, verse 6 says "So that we may boldly say." 36:58 Now, I'm boldly saying because He said, 37:00 "I won't leave you and I won't forsake you." 37:02 Notice this, "So that we may boldly say, 37:05 The Lord is my helper, 37:07 I like that, and I will not fear 37:09 what men shall do unto me." 37:13 Most of us fear what's coming upon this world. 37:15 It's a fearful time that we live in. 37:18 There's a time of trouble coming on this world 37:20 that man has never seen before. 37:22 It's a time as were reverential as it were 37:25 fear and respect the God says, you need to prepare for this, 37:28 you need to set things down, you need to tighten things down 37:31 because the winds are blowing. 37:34 Again whether single 37:35 or whether you have two parents in the family, 37:37 it doesn't matter. 37:38 We need to be tied down to Jesus Christ right now 37:42 because the winds are blowing. 37:44 See, these are all some verses as far as I'm concerned. 37:47 But only this that we talk about, 37:49 only a God fearing, only a believing, 37:53 only a faithful Christian can claim these promises. 37:57 I'll just throw them out to you. 37:58 The promises are beautiful, the promises are real. 38:01 We have a right by God's grace 38:03 to claim every promises in the Bible. 38:04 Do you know that? 38:06 Every promise that is there, 38:07 we lay our fingers on and claim that promise 38:09 and keep claiming it, it will be fulfilled. 38:11 Why? 38:12 Because God says so. 38:15 That's awesome to me 38:17 that the God of universe cares so much. 38:19 He sees your tears at night 38:20 mama when you're just crying on the pillow, 38:22 there's no one there seem to help you, 38:24 He sees those tears. 38:25 He knows stress that you are under 38:27 and sometimes fathers too, we understand that, 38:30 it's very difficult for single father to get by two. 38:33 But God sees all of these things 38:35 and He understands all of these things, 38:38 and it wouldn't seems 38:39 that things are just simply fallen apart, 38:43 and maybe we've gone astray, 38:45 that happen sometime because of stress 38:47 because of situation, we fall apart. 38:50 We'll leave our only help, our only hope we'll leave it, 38:54 and we blame God for all the mistakes 38:56 that we have made, 38:58 rather than to say, He is there, 38:59 He wants what's best for us. 39:01 But sometime we admit it while ago, 39:03 we go astray because we've sinned. 39:05 I can't make the next house payment. 39:07 I don't know what I'm going to do, 39:09 the house is going to be taken away. 39:10 What's gonna happen to my children. 39:12 The power is soon to be cut off, 39:14 what am I going to do? 39:15 I can't make the house payment. 39:16 I can't make the power payment too. 39:18 Now the insurance has came, they have cancelled it now, 39:20 what am I going to do? 39:21 I lose everything, the house gets on fire whatever it might. 39:25 I've got a dollar to my name, is somebody still with me? 39:30 It seems like everything has went wrong, 39:32 can't go wrong has gone wrong. 39:34 Kids are sick, 39:36 may be one of them is in the hospital, 39:39 may be one of them said, "Mama, I'm hungry, 39:42 I need something, I need some food, 39:43 I'm down, I want to eat." 39:46 By that time you are ready to check it in, 39:49 you are ready to throw it in and say, 39:51 "I can't, I don't know if I can take it anymore." 39:52 Where do we go? 39:54 Where do we go when we reach this low part in our life? 39:57 Do we go to a friend or a family, somebody, well, 40:00 we can do that, we can pray about it. 40:01 But where do we really go, it makes a difference 40:04 where you go and the outcome, it will be different. 40:07 If we do what the Bible says, we simply claim the promises 40:11 we talk about it in Hebrews 13, "I will never," what? 40:14 "I will never leave thee...'' 40:15 and, you know, "I will never forsake you." 40:18 He says, I am your helper, we need a helper, 40:21 He's out to be your helper. 40:22 We need nothing to fear, that's good. 40:26 God help us, you see, 40:29 to study the course 40:30 when everything is shaking, it seem to fall apart, 40:33 help me to study the course, 40:35 you know, He will, He'll be right there for us all the time 40:38 because He will never leave us or He will never forsake us. 40:41 See, being a single parent can be an added pressure and stress 40:46 that we've talked about here in raising children. 40:49 Why? 40:50 Because there is no one to share the responsibility. 40:53 I always like to say sometime, what do you think? 40:56 Sometime I always get what you think 40:58 before I ask for what you think? 40:59 But somebody now without might as well sit down. 41:05 A lot of times 'cause what? We want to be helpful, right? 41:08 You want to have not stress or so but I like that many time 41:11 you can bounce it off and say what do you think? 41:15 Me today, we had a little stressful situation here, 41:17 I had to go in to what to do? 41:19 And I am saying basically, no, 41:21 I don't think we ought to do that. 41:22 And then we kind of talked about it as a church 41:26 and we talked about it with the elders on the platform, 41:29 you think it would be all right. 41:30 Want to be pleasing in the sight of God, 41:32 is it okay. 41:33 So it's nice to have someone you can bounce it off and say, 41:36 well, yeah, or I think not. 41:39 All someone had to do or so, 41:40 I don't think we ought to do that 41:42 and that would be an okay with me. 41:44 But if sometime we are just little bit too far out there, 41:47 it's good to have counsel. 41:48 That bounces it as were of one another 41:51 share the responsibility 41:53 when making these decisions of life about income. 41:57 Just having extra set of hands 41:59 around the house is so wonderful to have. 42:03 But, you know, sometime we forget 42:05 the importance of family, importance of friends, 42:09 the importance of church to be there, 42:11 always to be helpful. 42:13 But what about the first thing we do? 42:15 First thing we come in trouble, we do call our friend sometime, 42:18 we call different people but interesting, 42:20 the Bible tells us who we were to call on first, isn't it? 42:23 See, in other words, we're calling everybody else 42:25 and we're still not there yet and so we think, 42:27 oh, I need to call on my best friend Jesus. 42:30 You know, if you've ever asked yourself? 42:31 I asked myself this question, 42:33 I don't know if you have ever done it. 42:35 I say it, how in this world do people make it without Jesus? 42:40 Do you ever asked that? 42:41 How does somebody go through lots of love 42:45 and messes in the world and they don't know 42:47 Jesus they can talk to? 42:50 Sing songs, pray together, 42:53 how does one make it 42:55 to go through all these situations of life. 43:00 Lot of people are just, 43:01 they're going through life, they are existing. 43:04 Ah, think about it. 43:05 It's not a real life, they are just simply existing, 43:08 and that's what I say those without Christ, 43:10 you're just existing. 43:12 With Him is life forever. 43:14 Just getting by, there's a better way, 43:17 I know, that there's a better way 43:19 to lift up Jesus and we'll see the stress go down. 43:22 Lift up Jesus, we'll see the spiritual life 43:24 will began to increase. 43:26 Ephesians Chapter 4, time is running down, 43:28 Ephesians 4:24 and 31 and 32, 43:33 you say, well, how, how does we balance the scale 43:35 and put it in the up position here? 43:38 Notice what the Bible says, 43:40 "And that ye put on the new man," 43:42 I like this in Ephesians 4, "which after God is created" 43:45 notice this "in righteousness and true holiness. 43:49 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, 43:54 " that means all clamour is what? 43:55 All out cries, all grief, all crying, let it go, 44:01 notice this, "and evil speaking, 44:03 be put way from you, with all malice." 44:06 These are conditions here, God says, I want to bless you, 44:08 I want to take care of your family, 44:09 I want to meet all of these needs 44:11 right here but notice, 44:12 you gonna have let all these bitterness go. 44:14 Well, I'm in a situation because so and so did, 44:16 I'm in a situation because of, 44:19 began to speak evil of the other person 44:21 or say things that we shouldn't be talking about here. 44:24 We have bitterness in our heart 44:25 and then we ask God to come in and do great things 44:28 and that bitterness needs to be taken care of. 44:30 That evil speaking needs to be taken care of 44:32 if God is going to work the way He wants to work in us. 44:35 A little article in Review and Herald, little magazine, 44:39 this is written in 1905, 44:40 just a line, notice what it says, 44:42 "Never are they never are we to spend our time 44:46 in accusing or condemning one another." 44:50 Boy, I tell you that steps on the toes, 44:52 that hurt just a little bit, 44:53 that makes us squeak a little bit, 44:55 that makes us look around and say, 44:56 everybody else and not me. 44:58 Notice this, we are never to spend any time 45:01 in accusing or condemning one another. 45:04 We should never ever do that 45:06 because that is the devil's work 45:08 and that reproves who is leading in your heart 45:10 and in your life. 45:11 Verse 32 says, "And be ye," notice this, 45:14 I'm wanting the blesses of God, I need the support, 45:16 stress is too much, what do I need to be, 45:18 I need to learn to be "kind to one another," 45:20 the Bible says in verse 32, 45:22 "tenderhearted, forgiving one another, 45:25 even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." 45:29 It all makes sense, all conditional here. 45:32 I love this part here and a little book if you have, 45:34 if you don't have it you should get it, 45:36 it's called Adventist Home. 45:37 It's a good book, talked about raising children, 45:40 giving advice, marriage and so on and getting married, 45:42 and it's just a beautiful book, 45:44 it really help us do the right thing. 45:45 Adventist Home, page 31 says this, 45:48 "The home in which the members are polite," 45:52 somebody stay with me, 45:53 "in the home where the members are polite, 45:57 courteous Christians 45:58 exerts a far-reaching influence for good." 46:02 Ha, "Other families," they are watching, 46:05 you know, that your neighbors are watching 46:07 notice this, "Other families will mark the results 46:10 attained by such a home, 46:12 and will follow the example set, 46:15 in their turn," notice this, 46:16 "guarding against Satanic influences..." 46:20 Interesting here, 46:21 if the home is not guarded by the Spirit of living God, 46:24 Satan is taking care of the issues. 46:26 He's taking care of your life. 46:27 he's taking care of the children's life 46:29 and the house is a mess 46:30 and over the doorpost Satan says, 46:32 this is my house. 46:34 You don't want that, that Satan, this is my... 46:37 Remember it's one or the others as much as you want to say, 46:39 well, there is no such thing, 46:40 either the house belongs to God, 46:42 you belong to God or you belong to the Satan 46:44 or the devil. 46:45 Does that make sense? 46:47 One or the another. 46:48 Woo, Jesus said, Matthew 12, He who is not with me is what? 46:51 He's against me, 46:52 let the word speak 46:54 that's what the word says. 46:55 That's what it says, so what it says, 46:58 and it goes guard against Satan... 46:59 I like this part here, this is good. 47:01 "The angels of God," woo, 47:03 "will often visit the home 47:06 in which the will of God bears sway." 47:09 I'm looking for those angels to visit 47:13 and you think they are not out there 47:15 because you don't see them. 47:16 But where you are doing the will of God you are studying, 47:18 and you are praying, you love Jesus, 47:20 your encouragement in the community, 47:23 it says the angels love to visit those homes. 47:25 They are walking up and down, you see, in the home 47:27 taking notice that we like to be here 47:30 because they represent Jesus. 47:31 Oh, how wonderful that is. 47:33 Notice this, it says "The faith that works by love 47:36 and purifies the soul." 47:38 You know that as you look at that Hebrews 11, 47:40 the faith chapter. 47:41 Look at Revelation Chapter 3, 47:43 talks about "faith working by love." 47:46 Letter 24, 1892 reads this quickly, 47:49 notice "Justification by faith and righteousness of Christ 47:54 are the themes to be presented to a perishing world." 47:58 Notice, did you notice what verse to be presenting. 48:01 See, today, we may be talking 48:03 about the parent or the single parent, 48:04 but we are talking about a Christ less world, 48:07 a world that's doomed to hell. 48:09 Are you still with me, church? 48:11 There has to be changes made 48:13 and we need to be presenting which we're doing here. 48:16 Jesus says, "I'll never leave you, 48:17 I'll never forsake you, I'm your helper, 48:18 I'm going to be with you till the end. 48:20 We are presenting Jesus, 48:22 the matches love of Jesus Christ right here 48:24 "Justification by faith," 48:25 it's probably the right hand 48:27 third angel's message in verity, is it not? 48:29 "Righteousness of Christ, 48:30 just the theme that we need to be 48:32 presenting to the world today 48:34 is Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 48:36 I tell you right now, 48:38 you pass through this life the one time 48:40 and I encourage you to make the best of it. 48:42 There have been times in my life 48:43 I haven't made the best of it. 48:45 But by God's grace 48:46 I'm going to be making the best ever 48:47 because you only pass by one time 48:49 and things can change instantly. 48:52 We must make the most ever while we have the opportunity, 48:56 life is not going to continue on. 48:58 Our influence in the neighborhood, 49:00 in our world, 49:01 it seems like nothing. 49:02 Well, they are not paying any attention, 49:04 the neighbors are watching. 49:06 You know, people you work with are watching, 49:08 well, you know. 49:10 And you might think I don't have very many abilities, 49:12 I don't have any gifts, I can't really be helping, 49:15 they are so small and, you know, 49:17 I have very few good opportunities 49:19 like everybody else does 49:21 and everything I do seems to be limited, 49:23 and I don't know what to do. 49:24 Let me tell you today, based on God's Word, 49:26 the possibilities are endless. 49:28 Whether you're single parent or whether you're not, 49:31 the possibilities are endless. 49:33 If you look to Him, the author and the finisher of your faith, 49:35 if you look to Him and you're being obedient 49:38 to what He says in His Word, friend. 49:40 This is where it all begin, it begins in the family, 49:42 this is where it works at. 49:44 It begins in the home 49:46 and is revealed what? 49:48 In actions, an action, not just words, Psalms 25, 49:52 if we had time we would read them all, 49:53 we're not doing it, Psalms 25: 1-15 49:56 there is too many in five minutes or so less, 49:58 stay with me. 50:00 I'm gonna read Psalms 25:4 and 5, notice this. 50:03 It says, "Shew me thy ways, O Lord, teach me thy paths." 50:08 I love that "O teach me thy paths." 50:10 Verse 5, "Lead me into" what? 50:13 "Truth, teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation, 50:16 on thee do I wait all the day." 50:19 Wait on the Lord, you know what it says, Psalms 27, 50:21 "Wait on the day on the Lord." 50:24 Are we really waiting on the Lord? 50:25 Are we really asking Him, show me thy ways, O Lord. 50:29 Show me the path and I need to trod, 50:31 teach me, lead me. 50:33 I guarantee if God is teaching you, 50:34 you're on the right path. 50:36 Are you willing to follow that path? 50:39 Testimonies to Ministers 490, says 50:40 "In this time 50:41 when Satan is seeking to make void the law of God." 50:44 Is Satan seeking to make void the law of God now? 50:47 He has for a long, long time, so I encourage you again 50:50 whether you're single, whether you are married, 50:52 whatever is right now to pay special attention 50:54 "In this time 50:55 when Satan is seeking to make void the law of God." 50:58 "We need to guard most carefully 50:59 against everything 51:01 that would tend to lessen our faith and scatter," 51:04 notice this "our forces." 51:06 We need to be drawing what? 51:08 Together, not separating 51:10 because the enemy is trying to separate, 51:12 that way he can do it, right? 51:13 The animals do that 51:15 when they're out on the hunt, right? 51:16 They separate one from the flock, 51:17 they can take that, 51:19 when flock stays together, they have a difficult time. 51:20 "And in this time of unusual peril," 51:22 do we agree "we must learn to stand alone, 51:25 our faith fixed, not on the word of man, 51:29 but on the sure promises of God." 51:31 Why? 51:32 Matthew 15:9, what does it say? 51:34 "In vain did they worship me, teaching," what? 51:36 "Doctrines the commandments of men." 51:39 So you're going to have to make a decision, 51:40 I'm going to have to make a decision. 51:42 We have to make decisions that are very, very positive. 51:45 We can't be flip flopping around over here, 51:47 over there doing this, doing that, 51:48 we need to be ceded in the cause of Christ. 51:51 We need to be on that sure foundation, 51:53 you now, how can, how can we just run to and fro, 51:56 over here one day 51:57 and over there the next right there 51:58 when Jesus says what? 52:00 We need that sure foundation. 52:01 We have to agree upon what is truth. 52:03 You know, that people 52:04 is not preaching truth over here 52:05 so why you're listening to him? 52:07 You know they are not preaching truth over here 52:08 so what are you doing, mingling with them? 52:09 Somebody is listening, jump apart and be separate 52:11 and touch not the what? 52:13 The uncleaned thing. 52:14 This is what we get ourself into trouble. 52:16 We think that it's not going to happen, 52:18 you know, I understand, 52:19 I've been there, we have friends, 52:21 we have different people going on, 52:22 but I realize the influence 52:23 we have to be very, very careful. 52:25 You say, "Well, I'm on the fence." 52:27 You need to get off the fence, you get splinters. 52:29 You know that. 52:30 You got to make a decision for Jesus Christ. 52:33 We've got to do the right thing because time is that short 52:36 that we can't be dillydallying around. 52:38 We have a message to give, do we not to the world? 52:41 This will reduce the stress, believe it or not. 52:44 In the home when you know what is right 52:46 and you're willing to follow that, 52:47 but lot of times you have to give up other things 52:50 of the world. 52:52 If people are not preaching 52:54 and again teaching and living the truth, 52:55 what are you doing messing with them? 52:57 Other than give Bible studies, are you still with me, to help. 53:01 They will influence you for, we gonna say, 53:03 you presume you have your attitude change, 53:05 your mind will be changed because they will confuse you. 53:09 It's a snare of the old enemy. 53:12 Stay close to Jesus. 53:14 Single parents, stay close to Jesus. 53:17 Married with lot of children, stay close to Jesus, why? 53:21 Oh, I'll tell you. 53:22 Do you realize that lot of times 53:24 there's even in single family we have to be very careful 53:26 because there's even more crime, 53:28 in single families, 53:30 you know that than in two parents, 53:32 I want you to keep that in mind, 53:34 criminal activity. 53:36 Notice this, I'll read you one statistic before we close. 53:38 "Children from single parent household 53:41 account for 72% of teenage murders 53:45 and 60% of rape crimes. 53:49 Interesting, 53:51 that doesn't mean everybody is that way, 53:52 but we understand that statistic 53:53 that what's kind of happening 53:55 because there may be a lack of discipline 53:56 and so on in the home, 53:58 a lack of Christ being in the home. 54:00 How about today to make sure, let's make a decision, 54:02 we want Christ in the home. 54:04 We want Christ in the home and all these other things 54:06 are going to work themselves out, 54:08 give them sometime, spend time on your knees, 54:10 spend time praising God, singing, 54:12 reading the scriptures and watch what He will do. 54:15 Your life will change drastically and mine. 54:19 If we, notice, live up to every ray of light 54:23 that He has given to us. 54:25 That's conditional and then all these other things 54:28 will be added unto you. 54:30 Matthew 6, you remember that, 54:31 "Seek you first the Kingdom of God 54:33 and His righteousness and all these other things 54:36 will be added unto you." 54:37 I want to have a quick prayer with you who are at home 54:39 and those who are here, 54:40 that you made a decision even the more, 54:41 maybe a tight decision that you ever made before. 54:44 Let's do it in our last few seconds together, shall we? 54:46 Let's pray. 54:47 Loving Father in heaven, 54:49 again we thank You for Your precious Word. 54:50 We thank You for loving us today. 54:52 Thank you for the direction that You have given us, 54:53 help us to stay close to you 54:55 and I ask special blessing on those 54:57 who right now made that decision, 54:58 I will follow Jesus, 55:00 I'm going to reregulate things in my home. 55:02 I want to follow You in Jesus' name. 55:04 Amen. 55:07 I want to thank you for joining us 55:08 here on Behold the Lamb today. 55:10 Again, we really appreciate your cards and letters, 55:12 and your prayers and your support 55:13 that keeps this message going into all the world. 55:16 We love you, and we look time forward 55:17 to seeing you next time. 55:21 Hello, friends, and welcome back, 55:24 survival tips for single parenting. 55:26 I hope you just gleaned up 55:28 a whole bucketful during that message 55:31 and that the Lord has blessed you. 55:33 And if He has blessed you 55:35 and you would like to have this particular messages, 55:38 particular Bible study 55:40 as a part of your study library, 55:42 we hope you'll contact us here at Behold the Lamb Ministries. 55:46 You know, we love to hear from you. 55:48 We love to hear how the Lord is working in your heart 55:51 and you know, whether or not 55:53 you want this series or you don't want it, 55:54 remember always, always, we need your prayers, 55:59 we need your financial support, 56:01 and we need your love to continue to move forward, 56:04 and we thank you for all of those things. 56:06 But if you'd like to have this, 56:08 a single message is being offered to you 56:12 for a love gift of just $8 or more. 56:14 But as I mentioned earlier, 56:16 we are still going through this Bible Study Guide 56:20 and it is entitled Sharing God's Love, 56:22 Makes You Happier, What the Bible Says? 56:25 What your Bible says? 56:26 What your neighbor's Bible says? 56:29 You can call, you can order 56:30 a whole case of these if you like 56:32 along with your DVD message and pass them out, 56:36 make this a part of your ministry as well. 56:39 But for every message 56:41 that you do order from us during this series, 56:44 we will be happy to send you 56:45 at least one of these Bible Study Guides 56:48 and if you'd like to have all 25 lessons 56:51 that are contained in here, 56:53 we gonna offer a complete package of all 25 56:57 for just a love gift of $175 or more. 57:01 You couldn't buy DVDs anywhere at a regular price, 57:05 anywhere, any type, any time for that price. 57:09 So we pray that you'll just multiply it out 57:12 and prayerfully consider if you like to have these. 57:14 Maybe you can have Bible studies in your home. 57:16 All you have to do is call us here 57:18 at Behold the Lamb Ministries at (618) 942-5044, 57:24 that's Central Standard Time, 57:26 or you may write to us at Behold the Lamb Ministries, 57:29 PO Box 2030, Herrin, Illinois 62948. 57:35 Send us an email, 57:37 the email address is 57:38 BeholdTheLambMinistries @Yahoo.com 57:40 and as always, 57:42 visit us on our website 57:43 at www.Behold TheLambMinistries.com. 57:48 Dear friends, until next time may our precious Lord 57:51 continue to richly bless you 57:54 and yours, your family, your children, 57:56 single parenting, whoever you are, God bless. |
Revised 2019-02-11