Category: Family

Instruction

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will councel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalms 32:8

We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and he will give us everything we need. God never takes his loving and protective eye off of us and he is in control even though Satan likes to think he can cause all the trouble he chooses to. But what he will never admit is that God has to allow it. He has allowed evil to exist on earth for thousands of years even though he could change that if he really wanted to. He has told us to pray for the countries that discipline us, because we want them to come to know you and his love for them. To make a difference in our world. But I have thought a lot about this over the last several years and it definitely makes him the better man because he is smart enough to make any and all evil good in his ways. Ways that don’t make sense to our finite minds. He can make Satan think he gets away with it but he also doesn’t see the good things God is doing in us. Our greatest growth comes in difficult times not in comfortable times. We don’t necessarily enjoy struggling with anxiety and fear but it can definitely make us better if we don’t get bitter. It takes trust on our part because it takes time for God to work it all out. His ultimate goal is to make heaven crowded so he has all his family home with him. He loves all people in all nations and places on earth. He gives us wisdom to do our part right where we live. He never gives up on the plans he has for our lives and even as we stray from our path he is there drawing us back to himself. Give all you have for his kingdom because eventually it is our kingdom.

Love

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“You have heard that it was said, ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Loving people is not always easy. People aren’t perfect and they do things we don’t like and they hurt us and fall short of ours expectations. The only one who will never hurt us is God. He will give us the strength we need to love anyone he puts in our lives if we ask him. Many people don’t know God and don’t have his help in their lives. When you don’t know God you do things that cause hurt first to yourself and also to others. When you are hurting because of your poor mistakes you tend to hurt others. Misery loves company. If I feel bad why shouldn’t others. But when you are totally and perfectly loved by you Father you have the strength and the wisdom to show that same love to others in a way that will totally amaze and confuse others. They just don’t understand that kind of love. The more you treat people with respect and love the more they will treat others that way. I have a nurse who had a patient who was the typical grumpy old man, because he was confused and others around him we’re also confused and had uncontrollable problems that irritated him, so he was always yelling at everyone around him. This nurse went out of her way to show him love and respect and he started being kind in return. Others still irritated him but with less outbursts. We all need love just like air and when we don’t get it we suffer. So go out of your way to love and respect those around you and they might surprise you.

Be Doers

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” John 14:21

When you love someone you will do what they say out of love and respect. You don’t see it as unnecessary because they wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t important. You don’t question love because love trusts. Well the God who created the universe loves those he created and he also knows everything. So knowing what is best for his own creation just makes sense. Because he is God. Now you can not trust everyone. Satan will also try to convince you to trust him. You don’t always know it’s him talking to you. You might just think that it was your thought. But if it isn’t good for you or about you, then you probably don’t want to listen to it. Satan will try to tell you that your bad, useless and don’t deserve things but God would never say anything like that. Everyone was created on purpose and for a purpose. We don’t all accomplish our purposes but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. God has offered all the help you need. Strength? Wisdom? If your parents had told you things to do or avoid doing and you never did anything they said they would be upset. First they would worry that you might do something and hurt yourself. They would also worry that you were heading down the road to disaster and be worried about your future. You wouldn’t want to make them sad. Now I understand that not all parents are perfect. Nobody is but God. But it is their job to raise you to be responsible and to one day be able to make wise decisions for yourself. To do things that would not harm others or endanger your future. Now suppose your parents had five kids. They would expect you to love and support them and not harm them. Family sticks together, right? This world is just one really big family and we all need each other. There is nothing more important than unity. Because we are much better together. Two can accomplish more than one. The more the merrier. The one who created us wants that more than your parents did. He even wants us to take care of those that may not be able to take care of themselves. What I’m saying is, if you had a brother who was handicapped, you would help him get around and do things for him. So many people just need help out of where they are stuck. When we help and care for others it makes us feel good. We matter and we are loved in return.