Family

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Ephesians 5

(1) Be imitators of God therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
(6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient (7) Therefore do not be partners with them (8) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light (9) for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth (10) and find out WHAT PLEASES THE LORD. (11) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them.
(15) Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity....

Someone once gave me a plaque with a mother-n-law prayer on it.... It read as follows
Dear Lord please place one hand around my shoulder and the other over my mouth. How often I have cried out that prayer to Him. What started out as a joke has became a well-memorized prayer for me. I have added to that prayer as my son gets older. He will be graduating this year and has had the same girlfriend for quite some time. I am very grateful that she is also a Saved Christian. What did I add to my prayer? I have also prayed for over three year’s now.. PLEASE LORD Help me to be a good mother-n-law, help me love and listen and care for all my children. May I always remember they are gifts from You.

As you may have guessed it today my devotional is about FAMILY. For over 7 years now I have learned what it means to have a dysfunctional family. I always believed mine was dysfunctional, what a lesson I have learned. Never would my mother or father talk down to me, talk about me or create rivalry between siblings. To disown or deny a grandchild would never happen. Yet I found myself right in the middle of this,
Sister-n-laws talking about the other, parents’ talking about their children and grandchildren to whom ever was there. Nothing I had learned could have prepared me for what I have been through. So many hurts, betrayals, lies and manipulations I have had to let go. And just when I think I have moved past those feelings.. that dirty rotten devil places them right back into our lives. The Bible tells us to honor thy mother and father.. But it also tells the parents to teach their children the ways of the Lord. We have had to separate ourselves from most our families, telling them that the door is open, however, we refuse to live against Gods will for our lives. We asked them to not smoke, not swear and to treat each other with respect while in our home. We also told them that we would not raise our daughter up with vengeance in her heart. We have had to learn to forgive them for everything they have done and continue to do, but, we have also learned that we do not have to let them control our emotions anymore. How angry and hurt I use to be when they would make comments about my children or me. But God has given me victory over their words. It has become so sad to me that they have no life other than trying to control ours. How thankful I am for the husband God has given me, for the children we have, for the love for God we share. I continue to pray that I always treat my children as God intended. When your family treats strangers better than their own family... God is not present in their lives. Take the time to thank God for your children, for their love and for your family. Remember they are blessings to us from our Father and not possessions.

Father how thankful I am that You love me, that you forgive me when I mess up. You do not betray my family or me. I ask that you forgive me when I react in a way not pleasing to You, and You always show me when I am hurtful to another. Teach me to be the best mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend I can be. Help me love everyone as You love me. Thank You for taking me from where I was and placing me here in Your protective arms. Forgive our families when they talk down to You and others open their hearts and mind to You so that they may spend eternity in Heaven. In the Perfect Precious Name of Jesus I pray... AMEN

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