Working Together

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2.
Children as well as parents have important duties in the home. They should be taught that they are a part of the home firm. They are fed and clothed and loved and cared for; and they should respond to these many mercies by bearing their share of the home burdens, and bringing all the happiness possible into the family.
Even the little ones should be trained to share in the daily work, and should be made to feel that their help is needed and is appreciated. The older ones should be their parents’ assistants, entering into their plans, and sharing their responsibilities and burdens. Let fathers and mothers take time to teach their children, let them show that they value their help, desire their confidence, and enjoy their companionship, and the children will not be slow to respond. Not only will the parents’ burden be lightened, and the children receive a practical training of inestimable worth, but there will be a strengthening of the home ties and a deepening of the very foundations of character.
Work is good for children; they are happier to be usefully employed a large share of the time; their innocent amusements are enjoyed with a keener zest after the successful completion of their tasks. Labor strengthens both the muscles and the mind. Mothers may make precious little helpers of their children.
The approval of God rests with loving assurance upon the children who cheerfully take their part in the duties of domestic life, sharing the burdens of father and mother.
If children were taught to regard the humble round of everyday duties as the course marked out for them by the Lord, … how much more pleasant and honorable would their work appear. To perform every duty as unto the Lord, throws a charm around the humblest employment, and links the workers on earth with the holy beings who do God’s will in heaven.
The Faith I Live By p. 268
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Prayer Requests
—- urgent prayers for our dear friend Patrick who is now fighting for his life from brain aneurysm. Dr’s says he has a slim chance to survive,but we know the lord can work his miracle. Pray for his wife too so she could remain calm and strong,and trust that the lord is working to heal him. Samantha
—-They took X-Rays of my lungs and my double PNEUMMONIA is worse. Please continue PRAYING for me. Connie
—-Please pray for some children under demonic influence to get rid of the movies, video games, jewelry, music, toys, clothing, etc. that gave Satan’s forces access to them, by Jesus’ blood. Antonnette
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, we had a van that I really liked, over the years the grey paint was gone in a few spots and rust had taken its place. There were a few dents here and there. There was a small rust hole near the tail light that caused the brake lights to blow a fuse occasionally. Something needed to be done. If we left it alone, the van would only get more and more rusty until it would finally be irreparable. We took it to a body shop to get the rust spots repaired and to give it a coat of paint. Eileen and I got to pick out the color. I knew it had to be blue, my favorite color, but there were so many shades of blue to choose from that they all began to look alike. Finally we chose a bright blue metallic paint.
We were without our van for a week, but when we got it back, we were very happy with the change. Instead of a dismal rust-spotted grey, it was now a beautiful blue. Even the dents were gone. But as we drove the van, we could tell that despite the coat of paint, the engine, brakes, and all the rest had not changed. It was still the same old van with the same old problems.
Sometimes we want our lives to be like that. Sometimes we want to “clean up” the outside, but leave the inside unchanged. Jesus showed the Pharisees the fallacy of this. ” Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matt 23:25-28
Through Jeremiah, He reminds us, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jer 13:23 We cannot change our hearts. We can make an effort, but we soon find that we are helpless. But our dear Saviour has provided a way. He promises, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27 Only our Great Creator can change us on the inside as well as on the outside.
Zechariah saw a vision of this very thing. “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments.” Zech 3:3-5 Jesus offers us this change of garments even the garment of His righteousness. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Rev 3:18
Let us reach out by faith and lay hold of that robe of righteousness. Let ask our loving Saviour to cleanse us from all iniquity. Let us allow Him to make our hearts clean and pure and spotless this day is my prayer.
Rose